Slaves of Suffering - Advent of Despair

Artist: Slaves of Suffering
Release Title: Advent of Despair
Year: 2016
Label: Ungodly Ruins Productions
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Advent of Despair
2. Crown of Ignorance
3. Servants of Corruption
4. Imminent Demise
5. Dwell in Torment
6. Systematic Opression
7. Dismal Realm
8. Destructive Design
9. Vicious Cycle

Formed in May 2014, Mexican brutal death metal newcomers Slaves of Suffering have changed style from an old-school influenced death metal act before quickly adopting their more current brutal incarnation shortly afterward. Finally able to release their full-length debut, the crushing release was originally issued May 31, 2016 on Ungodly Ruins Productions.

What immediately becomes present with this one here is the fact that there’s a strong mixture of stylish old-school death metal within the brutal rhythms. Featuring the tight, deep churning riff-work with frenzied buzzing patterns alongside frantic blasting drumming throughout here, this one readily captures a frantic brutal vibe that brings along plenty of crushing rhythms and pummeling tempos to the forefront with the group opting to deliver these at mostly full-throttle paces. Swarming along throughout the rhythms here makes the riffing tend into a full-on blur of brutal riffing that comes off rather nicely if somewhat formulaic here, and with the band opting to go for some rather more sprawling sections to support the solo-work here it generates more of a fine old-school death metal vibe than what is usually found in the genre. Still, it’s hard to really overcome the formulaic and somewhat overly-familiar approach through this one which tends to cause this to come off as yet another band in a packed, crowded field in the genre as there’s numerous other bands packing that kind of choppy, feverish riffing and blasting drumming into their sound to let the band really stand out with any kind of voice or identity of their own. The old-school influences do this quite well, yet it’s not done often enough throughout here to really mean as much as it should’ve considering what’s a nice part of their sound is featured only sporadically which is what does cause this to slip down somewhat.

Though it’s somewhat slightly problematic with it’s lack of real originality and the mis-use of a potentially identifiable feature that could be harnessed to accomplish that, this being a debut causes these to slip by the wayside somewhat so that it does end up becoming a solid choice for the most fervent and undiscerning brutal death apologist or fan of extreme Latin American metal.

Score: 76/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
https://ungodlyruinsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/advent-of-despair

Gorged Bile - Origins of Contempt

Artist: Gorged Bile
Release Title: Origin of Contempt
Year: 2016
Label: Ungodly Ruins Productions
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Tracklisting:
1. Hatred Penetrated Hatred
2. Deposed Sectarian
3. Immaculate Movements of Vice
4. Pestilent Acts by My Hands
5. A New Level of Perception
6. Origin of Contempt
7. Untitled
8. Premature Exodus
9. Necrotizing Fasciitis
10. Devoted in Filth (Final and Irrevocable Victory of Forces of Evil and Darkness)

Part of the country’s burgeoning death metal scene, Russian brutal death metallers Gorged Bile has quickly become one of the top practitioners of the style with their fevered, intense style. With Ivan Shirakov appearing to settle the bands’ vocalist problems by settling into the lead singer position, the band prepares to release their second full-length in as many years on August 31, 2016 via Ungodly Ruins Productions.

As is standard issue fare for more brutal death metal acts, there’s a rather deep and churning series of riff pattern present here that whips up a storm of intense patterns throughout. The album’s penchant for tight, frantic chugging riffing and steady patterns keeps this one blazing along at a steady, pummeling mid-tempo pace without much deviation to be found here that really overall makes this generate the kind of dirty, grungy feel typified by the genre. This one really gets the most out of itself at that point as well, fully taking the brutality to a truly blistering, frantic mindset here with this chugging riff-work working nicely in conjunction with the dynamic, choppy drumming and slinky bass-lines present which is weaved through a nice varied series of tempos and paces throughout this. Although this attack greatly enables it to work well within the confines of the genre, the fact that this here doesn’t really plow any new ground is perhaps the lone downfall here as the group’s attack leaves them with the prototypical tightly-wound, frenzied blur of brutality that runs rampant in the genre. The chugging and blasting drumming here aren’t anything new and does cause this to come off rather familiar and routine. Likewise, the album’s instrumental breather doesn’t really make much sense with it really just seeming to be a rather odd mix of sounds that aren’t really explained and is placed a little late in the album to be considered a mid-round breather so it’s quite an odd placement overall. Still, it’s not all that terrible a listen.

While this doesn’t really tread any new ground in a well-worn genre and has a questionable choice or two amongst it’s material, there’s plenty to enjoy here as the material and enthusiasm is more than enough to make this an appealing choice for this frenzied type of brutal death metal or extreme metal in general though others out there who like more than the norm should heed caution.

Score: 77/100

Does it sound good? Order it from here:
http://gorgedbile.bandcamp.com/