Antropofagus, Architecture of Lust
Who would have thought that the highly anticipated (and hyped) latest full-length from Hour of Penance wasn’t going to be the best Italian death metal album released this year? Not me.
In hibernation for about the last 13 years, Antropofagus have probably just let loose with the most surprising technical death metal album out of Italy (or any other country for that matter) this year. Architecture of Lust arrives with a flurry of blasting drums and twisted riffs that may not be all that original or genre-defining, but the band more than makes up for it with their performance.
With only one remaining member (Meatgrinder on guitars) from the band’s debut over a decade ago, the group is now fully fleshed out with lead growler Tya, Jacopp Rossi on bass and Davide Billia (Putridity, Septycal Gorge) manhandling the drums. The joint effort of these guys is rock solid, modern death metal that leans heavily to the technical side of things, but not quite to the extent that Hour of Penance revel in.
The title track opens up the album with a furious blast of drums and vile riffs that accompany the deep, guttural vocals. The song isn’t just a single-minded blastfest though. The band does well to keep you on your toes with a variety of tempos and rhythm changes that sees Billia on top of his game. The thing that I really like about the songs within this album is that they don’t waste any time. Antropofagus get right to the meat of the track and keep it there until it’s done — no fluff, no silly guitar wankery.
“Sanguins Bestiae Solium” lays down the law with martial riffs and rapid firing tempo changes while “The Lament Configuration” and “Eternity to Devour” ramps up the technical flare a great deal. Other standout songs include the Nile-influenced blasts of “Exposition of Deformities,” and the morose crawl of album closer, “Det Helgerån Av Häxor.“
Throughout Architecture of Lust, Antropofagus deliver solid, yet restrained technical death metal that is not only well played but just damned fun to listen to. The thick production isn’t too sharp or clean and gives the album an old school vibe, but the music within is modern and destructive. This album is highly recommended if you think that Hour of Penance are the only thing that Italy have to offer in the technical realm of death metal. Check out the unheralded Antropofagus.