Rating: 8.8 Release Date: 2006 Record Label: Nihilistic Holocaust Track list: Impureza |
Hellspawn/Hateful/Impureza Split CDr - Tworzenia, Resurrezione, Demence
The opening band of this rampagin' cavalcade is Polish band Hellspawn, who play cleverly crafted Death Metal with plenty of effective, flowin' structures, precise ‘n' unambiguous changes and lovely slamular chug patterns. The hoarse, diaphragmal vokill rumble complements the macabre atmosphere achieved by the songs delightfully, adding further menacing properties to the songs. There is more emphasis upon rudimentary yet efficient and memorable riffery than elaborate phrases and convoluted arrangements, alternating between monolithic chugulence and liberal use of limber runs ‘n' scales, setting aside the technical edge for the strategically situated solo-string squall. Although the rhythm section does add many an invaluable anvil to the intensity of the recording, the drumwork itself tends to be rather trite, with limited variety and creativity, relying instead on stuttery blasting and repetitive double-kick thuddery. Of course, this small flaw-barb inflicts only a minor graze upon the lithe-song flow and the surgin' groove remains unbroken throughout. Hellspawn clearly display a strong fondness of the post- ‘Covenant' part of the Morbid Angel back-catalogue, often taking direct cue from the more honest ‘n' straightforward writings of Azagthoth and friends, borrowing armfuls of blunt ‘n' hulkin' rhythms from ‘Domination', also subjecting us to savage, Neanderthal cudgellings comparable to that of ‘Heretic'. Elsewhere on their recording, the band sound slightly akin to old Vital Remains with a discernible Immolation intonation, along with a few similarities to more recent acts such as Burial and Caustic. Vokilly, the band utilise the same husky gutturals as Pillard-era Incantation, sang with an oesophagus that has clearly contracted a laryngeal virus from Will Rahmer. I daresay Hellspawn could be categorised as MOR Death Metal, or perhaps Pub Death Metal. Firmly rooted at the heavy, juddering midpoint of the spectrum, any shuffles toward the adjacent broootal ‘n' technical side or the grand ‘n' melodious far-end deemed unnecessary. Indeed, such diversions may've weakened the undeniable charm of the demo. In summary, the Hellspawn pub lunch is palatable, enjoyable ‘n' memorable!
There's a distinct essence of Suffocation in way the rugged, Thrashy foundations are ransacked by the extreme accelerations in tempo, lavish technical edge, cutting melodic derision and a brazen flouting of the primary song-stimulus itself. The thick ‘n' threatening feel and the premium musicianship with which it is mustered remind me of Deeds of Flesh, effortlessly creating that portentous atmosphere of loomin' catastrophe. However, a few palpable threads of Dying Fetus have been plaited in, thus balancing out the hue of the blackened fabric with an almost pit-friendly liveliness. The vokills consist of abrasive exhalations with the raucous, chalky bite of George ‘Corpsegrinder' Fisher, the raspin' wheeze recalling someone like Sepsism or Mangled. The trio o' tracks have been produced to a good level of clarity to ensure compelling heaviness without misplacing any of the numerous intricacies. Although the songs instigate an urgent, claustrophobic atmosphere, the thoughtful production does well to enhance their overall depth, breadth ‘n' warmth! Excellent technical stuff.
An inventive ‘n' intrepid set of technical mini-epics from Impureza rounds off this split album shindig then, involving a lot of labyrinthine arrangements and bold ideas, the result being an idiosyncratic brand of progressive Broootal Death Metal. Nimble digits gambol over threadbare frets with aplomb, fashioning some rather convoluted tunes, shifting swiftly between gut-excoriating low-end riff churnery, high-speed scale entanglement and gleamin' melodic segues of acoustic sparkle. Well-planned ‘n' rehearsed drumwork adds enough muscle to the juttin', intertwined frameworks to plumpify them, but without distracting listener attention with any braggadocious drum-skin maltreatment. The use of flamenco guitar during the melodic interludes is perhaps one of the most striking elements of Impureza. These twangly departures complement the ragin' bluster perfectly, creating lovely lilitin' lulls afore callously pressin' em flat again with sudden blastulative bombardment, the intensity of which is enhanced wonderfully by the contrast ‘tween the pair o' textures. The lyrics are recited with tangible venom, sometimes developing the lines into rancourous mantras. The vokills vary from clammy, slobberin' gutturals to vigorous, jaw-flappin' bellows, also adding an expressive, glottal edge to create a bit of a Black/Death feel. The rapid riff contortions often give way to extremely prominent, lurchin' rhythm that acts as an apex to the song itself, the furious delivery usually accentuated by a forceful vokill outburst. The inescapable recurring rumble, cavernous atmospheric murk and some of the vokills recall classick Fleshcrawl, while the motivated, forward thinkin' attitude ‘n' focussed innovations remind me of someone like Skinless or Nile. The acoustic segues bring an early Broken Hope album to mind, having the same emphasis on offering melodic respite amid the burgeoning bludgeonment, taking a more thoughtful approach to interlacing the two. I think the Impureza tracks have greater diversity and lasting appeal than those of Hellspawn ‘n' Hateful, with the ability to pull off the respective simplicity ‘n' technicality of their split-mates, applying it with a more measured, thoughtful method in order to create a choice, multi-dimensional work. A marvellous split!
September 30th, 2006 |
