Dying Fetus - Descend into Depravity

Rating: 7.4

Country: USA

Genre: Brutal Death Metal

Release Date: 2009

Track list:
1. Your Treachery Will Die With You
2. Shepherd''s Commandment
3. Hopeless Insurrection
4. Conceived Into Enslavement
5. Atrocious By Nature
6. Descend Into Depravity
7. At What Expense
8. Ethos Of Coercion

Total playing time 33:45

Band Website: Dying Fetus

Dying Fetus - Descend into Depravity

John Gallagher - Vocals, Guitar
Sean Beasley - Vocals, Bass
Trey Williams - Drums

Dying Fetus, or specifically John Gallagher, has been slowly rebuilding since the dissolution of the classic Destroy the Opposition line up circa 2001. Stop at Nothing from 2003 was the sound of a band on its knees, wheezing and spluttering, trying to get up from the dirt in which it had been left for dead. By 2007's War of Attrition the band had found its feet, had re-learned to walk, but was struggling to get running with the pace of the contemporary Brutal Death Metal pack. I probably liked that album more than most, but it was as high a standard as I reckoned Dying Fetus would ever regain. I'll be damned though, if you wanted to succinctly describe Descend into Depravity in 3 words those words would be "Return to form". I shit you not.

I wasn't willing to believe the positive reports myself until I encountered the band in the flesh, supporting Cannibal Corpse on their Autumn 2009 UK tour. Their set was a text book example of old pros with something to prove pulling out all the stops to try and steal the show and the headliner's crowd. Put simply it was a live performance which earned a purchase of their latest album.

Matching the promise of their live show, with Descend into Depravity Dying Fetus have found their form, are comfortably running with the pack, and in places even threatening to lead it. In 2009 they have managed to focus on what they do best (i.e. blast, burp, twiddle, and breakdown), and add new elements (not all successfully) so it doesn't sound they've been in stasis for the best part of a decade. That said you're never far away from a classic Dying Fetus breakdown. So classic you'd swear you were listening to Killing on Adrenaline, but that's a good thing. I think.

Dying Fetus were one of the first (the first?) Death Metal bands to adopt sweep picking as part of their riffing armoury. They have taken this tendency to an illogical conclusion this time around with sweeping neo-classical legato such as on opening number "Your Treachery Will Die With You", "Conceived Into Enslavement", and the title track. Problem is, these sections have no bottom end to speak of, and sound like someone's paused your Dying Fetus CD and opened a music box. It's far too twee and light for a band with the name Dying Fetus. These moments are few and far between admittedly, and pleasingly there's an abundance of quality tremolo picked Death Metal riffage and slamming chords to be had otherwise.

The album peaks early on with "Shepherd's Commandment", a chaotic blasting track, which sees the band setting the pace in a way they haven't done since Destroy the Opposition, incorporating some new tricks such as the Middle Eastern turn that sounds like Andreas Kisser has teleported in from the Arise sessions. The quality doesn't maintain this level for the remaining 6 tracks, but does hold up admirably right through to the shredding solo which sees out the end of final track "Ethos of Coercion".

Performance-wise Descend into Depravity is spot on. Trey Williams' percussion is precise if a little hindered by too synthetic a production. Trey has brought gravities into Dying Fetus' game effectively, his foot work is fearsome, and the guy has a good feel to his blasts; dare I say he's the drummer the band have been wanting since Kevin Talley's departure. Band leader John Gallagher's guitar playing is a great example of right hand rhythm tightness flowing effortlessly into near virtuoso lead guitar licks, and bassist Sean Beasley matches him for every sweep and tap as both axe wielders traverse their fret boards. The production captures all this with utmost clarity and cleanliness. Too much clarity and cleanliness for my tastes though - a heap of dirt would've gone a long way.

If you ever liked Dying Fetus then Descend into Depravity is a purchase you can make with confidence. Don't take my word for it though - catch them live in their current 3-piece configuration if you have the chance. That will surely convince you, especially if Killing on Adrenaline and Destroy the Opposition got a lot of attention 10 (+/- 1) years ago. This latest album showcases enough expansion of the band's sound to prove they're not just re-treading old glories, and it has enough hooks, bells, and whistles, to be an easy-in for young fans discovering Brutal Death. Make sure you get that Vomit the Soul album first though! It'll kick your arse harder!

January 1, 2010