the death metal legions: Dehuman Reign, Eternal Rest, FaithXtractor, I Killed Everyone, Humiliation, The Pete Flesh Deathtrip

This review is for those that love death metal! Here you will find a variety of approaches to our beloved genre, from old styles to new-jack intensity. This is a buffet of death metal, and it's time to feast!

--

Dehuman Reign (Germany): "Destructive Intent"

Dehuman Reign shows a love for classic, 90s blasting death that emphasizes tightness, guttural vocals, while never forgetting to keep the song at a mood that the listener can remember. It's fast, blasting, but not monotonously-claustrophobically so: the songs have a pace and riffs that will make you move.

Of course, Dehuman Reign is death metal all the way. "Brutal," heavy and fast to the max, the band is strictly for total and complete death metal listeners, and not the casual audience. If you are very picky and want something fancy, Dehuman Reign is not that type of death metal. They keep it straightforward and upfront.

Dive in, the water's fine, Dehuman Reign is death metal, and that's a-ok!

www.facebook.DehumanReign

--

Eternal Rest (Australia): "Prophetic"

I had the pleasure of hearing the band's demo some years ago. Now, look at them, have a full album ready!

Eternal Rest is blasting death metal, but there is one thing about Eternal Rest is their identity.

The care the band has taken to have good guitar work, and I have observed the hard work and find it delightful and skillful. When listening to this band, I notice the way that one can easily hear two main guitar rhythms working in unity. Eternal Rest is not pleased just to have heavy riffing: the hooks and dark melodies provide other angles from which to approach the music. You might like their heavy and intense sound. Or, you might like their sinister melodies; sometimes it's a bit dissonant coupled with heaviness. Either way, Eternal Rest can win over the death metal fan.

Eternal Rest is already pretty good, and this album is ample evidence of that! If they keep going this way, I think Eternal Rest will gain many followers. They are only getting started!

www.facebook.com/eternalrestband?sk=info

--

Faithxtractor (U.S.): "The Great Shadow Infiltrator"

FaithXtractor believes in keeping death metal direct and ready for impact upon first listen.

This is old school, traditional, non-technical, and heavy and dark death metal. It is also instant-impression death metal. Sure, they can play fast and do so, but they can slow down for some dark melodies for brief periods of time, like the slow solo at the beginning of "In All Forms Reptilian."

Speed is not the main thing, though. I would say that even the heaviness is not the most important thing, either. It is the songwriting that distinguishes Faithxtractor. The combination heaviness, speed, and a bit of melody, makes this album sound like Faithxtractor.

Whether it is the Stockholm-style classic death metal vibe or the early, classic Incantation vibe, Faithxtractor adds its own take on the influences. Don't get the idea that this is a copy-cat band or retro group. In my opinion, they make it all sound so easy, but it's not likely that that's the case at all, and only because it is so good that it comes across as simple death metal.

Good effort! Good songs! If you love classic death metal, here's a band that thinks like you.

www.deathgasm.com

--

I Killed Everyone (U.S.): "Necrosphire"

I Killed Everyone is the sort of modern death metal band that does just whatever they want, as long as it is brutal. They love, love, love breakdowns, so that their deathcore sound is also blasting in a way that death metal fans might want to check out, despite the "core" qualities.

I think that their name might turn some death metal fans off and the fact that the band does hardcore breakdowns might contribute to that further.

It's a bit unfair, though. In truth, the band clearly is more "brutal death metal" than anything else. They have plenty of total metal guitar solos and shredding, and the drummer is not a lazy hardcore slouch, either. Blasting is used a lot, and the pace in general is fast and headbanging.

If you think all new-style death metal sucks, then maybe this is not for you. However, if you more openminded, then check it out at least. This does not sound like a hardcore band, it's not emo core or anything like. They use the chugging only on certain moments, it's not all chugging, no-ability guitar playing. Far from it!

www.facebook.com/ikilledeveryone --

Humiliation (Malaysia): "Turbulence from the Deep"

Is Bolt Thrower ever going to release a new album? The concert in Seattle was excellent, so they are active, but no news on that new album, I guess. Maybe they are secretly working on it.

Well, you know, while we all wait for Bolt Thrower to make new music, we can entertain ourselves with Humiliation, a band that has a profound love of Bolt Thrower and who is very proud to make heavy death metal that recalls Bolt Thrower. From the very first song, and throughout the album, Bolt Thrower-ish riffs appear. It's not 100% percent tribute, but it is 100% a serious devotion.

Recommended for those that love Bolt Thrower and would enjoy bands that want to share that love with like-minded people.

www.deepsend.com

--

The Pete Flesh Deathtrip (Sweden): "Mortui Vivos Docent"

This is recommended only for those like blasphemous metal. It's meant to be offensive.

Not to get into arguments about genres, but the Pete Flesh Deathtrip is more of a black/death sound, with the guitar tone being more of a necro sound. The riffs are somewhere between black/death/thrash, and not "pure" death metal.

Anyway, if you would enjoy some sick metal, Pete Flesh will be it. Of all the releases reviewed here, it seems to me, Pete Flesh presents the most raw, unpolished sound. Those looking for a modern, shiny sound will be disappointed, while those that like "underproduced" metal will be interested.

Be that as it may, this black/death sound has some good moments, specially when the songs are ferociously fast, which seems to be the majority of the time. It's not a masterpiece or anything like that, of course, but more the solo project of Pete Flesh, working with a couple of friends to jam out some old, sick metal.

www.facebook.com/PeteFlesh