Review artwork for Septycal Gorge - Growing Seeds of Decay

Rating: 8.0

Country: Italy

Release Date: 2006

Track list:
1. Intro
2. Unidentified Corpse
3. Abominated Hierarchy [mp3]
4. Waltz of Desperation
5. Ultima Lucida Follia
6. Growing Seeds of Decay
7. Poisoned Human Flesh
8. Infected Dreams
9. Vacuous Retaliation

Band Website: Septycal Gorge

Septycal Gorge - Growing Seeds of Decay

Mariano Soma - Vocals
Deigo Riccobene - Guitar
Davide Boeri - Drums
Dario Berruti - Guitar
Maurizio Luca - Bass

What I liked about the Septycal Gorge promo EP is that some real death metal riffs are played, not under any speed or technical pressure but in a languid manner and with an unpredictable edge to it. It was like coming face-to-face with a completely sloshed man in a narrow alley. You know what such a man is capable of, but you can never guess his next move. He might grumble something one moment and burst out in a series of abuses the next. He might stand reeling one moment but suddenly charge at you the next. He might lift his hand one moment as if to wave goodbye and in the next moment use it to plant a singeing slap on your face. All his actions are performed in drunken momentum and you as a spectator can't help being fascinated by the phenomenon.

That's what happened to me with Delivering Hidden Mutilation promo EP. Thankfully, all its four songs are included in this full-length album of theirs consisting of eight songs (if you exclude the intro). As I've already reviewed the Septycal Gorge EP [review] I'll refrain from repeating myself and will rather attempt to give you an overall idea of this album. So broadly speaking, Septycal Gorge with the blessing of Suffocation, play morbid riffs of Putrid Pile and Deeds of Flesh, incorporate erratic slams and chugs like Digested Flesh with clunky parts of Broken Hope, apply the technical sensibilities of Defeated Sanity, Severed Savior and Insidious Decrepancy, and use the improvisational structure akin to that of Dyscrasia and Cenotaph (Turk). Their music has a kaleidoscopic nature to it that makes each song of theirs seem like an album, but if an untalented band were to attempt the same, it would almost certainly be irritating. They'd toss in riffs randomly while composing the song and yet when you hear the final product, it would all merge together as if it were the only way possible. It is this quality of theirs and the fact that they use the finest riffs which makes their music so engrossing.

There are times when Septycal Gorge get so self-absorbed with their technicality that they forget to provide relief parts but that's probably because your concentration is weak. Get drunk, stoned, beaten up, whatever it takes for you to get yourself completely in tune with their throbbing, impulsive brutality because then this album ceases to be just an album; it transforms into this fanciful boat ride wherein you lay sprawled with your hands hanging outside your little boat, which is constantly bobbing over turbulent waters. The boat goes up and down on the fluctuating tempo waves and at times even swirls around, but never is it threatened by the inundation of pointless brutality or by its capsizing due to pretentious technicality. You just lay chilling out in there, making the most of each moment, knowing very well that this will be a safe, yet an eventful ride.

In the brootal death metal gym, Septycal Gorge is this new nerdy kid who comes sauntering in and does a quick effortless set of 15 counts while the same can't be done even by the so-called gym veterans without screaming and throwing a fit. Here's a band that knows how to keep it brutal, technically interesting, a tad innovative and make sense without being redundant. Buy Growing Seeds of Decay because it is one of the best albums of 2006.

September 3rd, 2006