Behead the Lamb, Messiahlation
Hailing from Poughkeepsie, NY, Behead the Lamb make their debut with Messiahlation, a modern take on old school death metal in the vein of NY stalwarts Suffocation. Featuring former members of All Out War and Nerve Gas Tragedy, the group deliver the deadly goods with a raw, unkept sound that will plow you over under six feet of freshly turned earth.
The combination of guitarists Jose Segarra and Tara Apuzzo simply lays waste with classic death metal inspired leads and crushing riffs. Drawing in their experience with their former bands the duo lob severed limbs between them while Josh Sutherland (bass) and Jesse Sutherland (drums) bludgeon bone to dust with massive rhythms and maniacal blasts. Rounding out the group is vocalist Lionel Johnson, whose vocals are raw, deep and full of guttural ferociousness.
My Father’s Hands
The opening track builds slowly with some noise to set the mood for the first 35 seconds before evil riffs and unrelenting drums come in with a fury. A drawn out guttural growls brings in the vocals as the pace is picked up to a galloping wall of death that can only be described as the coming of the end. There are a few tempo shifts during this one that keep the blasts to a minimum yet accentuate the brutal side of the band. The lead vocals are deep and guttural, but understandable which work well for the band.
Serpent’s Harvest
“Serpent’s Harvest” keeps the blood flowing with a driving pace and a slick bit of vocal work. The group slows it down a bit for some nicely layered vocal growls, but quickly get back to rapid fire blasts and riffing. There’s a great explosion of activity around 2:15 that’ll have you tearing some ligaments in your neck and back thrashing along.
The First Born Of The Dead
A classic bit of guitar work starts off this next one for a few seconds before the band jumps into crushing riffs and heavy handed drumming. I love the galloping guitars and rhythms that follow. There’s more groove and head banging fun than you’ll know what to do with.
The Lord’s Prayer
Unstoppable, pile driving drums and evil guitar work gets this next one started off to a hellish start. “The Lord’s Prayer” is a beast of a song with layered vocals, massive walls of guitar and unrelenting blasts coupled with a few slow moments to highlight evil hooks and guttural growls. I’m loving this song.
Conquering The Rot
This one starts out much slower and darker than the previous songs, but don’t worry it quickly picks up the pace breakneck speeds. Chugging riffs and thick rhythms dominate the majority of this song. Amongst the pummeling riffs, there are some seriously evil hooks that remind a little of Morbid Angel.
With The Worms
The final track on this quick Cdep starts off with slow, chugging guitars for the first 20 seconds or so, at which time evil guitars and driving drums arrive with a sledgehammer to turn your insides to an unrecognizable, steaming pile. I love the slower moments of this one — dark, evil, and menacing.
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Behead the lamb certainly now how to channel some serious old school death metal. Not fully intent on reinventing a sound that inspired them, the group instead ramps up the brutality in their own take on straightforward death. I’m digging the hell out of this CDep, but wish that it were just a bit longer.
Favorite Tracks:
All of them
Additional Notes:
N/A