Dismember, Dismember
I’ve already been hearing mixed reviews about this latest effort from the legendary Dismember. Honestly, I don’t care what any of the detractors have written or said in response to it’s release. This latest self-titled effort from the Swedish death metal monsters only proves to cement their legendary status as one of the great all time metal bands. Harkening to a time when Entombed ruled the scene with their Clandestine and Left Hand Path releases, Dismember bring it all back full circle with 11 brutal songs in the same, sludgy vein.
Combining uncompromising, groove oriented death metal with sicker than shit leads, Dismember have provided a crushing listening experience complete with sludgy, dissonant noise and beefy riffing. Add in Matti Karki’s always impressive vocal growls and you’ve got yourself a must have for any death metal fan.
Death Conquers All
The opening track gets the severed head rolling quickly with driving drums and sick riffing. Karki’s vocals kick and immediately let you know that the group means business with aggressive barks and growls. There is little to no slowdown on this one as Dismember tear through note after note of sludgy death metal. There’s a soul torturing solo at the 2:50 mark that will leave your insides a gelatinous mess of destroyed organs.
Europa Burns
After that beast of an opening track, Dismember start of this next one with a chugging mid-tempo pace. There is plenty of groove flowing through this one to keep any metal head grinning sadistically. This one certainly brings to mind the early days of Swedish death metal.
Under A Bloodred Sky
Big guitars and thundering drums get the pace moving along briskly with this next one. The pace tends to be on the maniacal side as the band settles into their groove with unrelenting drums and evil riffing. The sheer aggression on this one is astounding.
The Hills Have Eyes
How can I not like a song with the same name as one of my all time favorite horror flicks? “The Hills Have Eyes” has a much richer and thicker sound as the band chugs along without remorse for those they bowl over. This is another track that has a classic sound you’ll not forget soon.
Legion
This one is probably my favorite song on the album. It’s a driving, bludgeoning death metal affair with a catchy chorus to boot. The level of aggression behind this one will have any death metal fan destroying their immediate vicinity in no time shouting along with the chorus like a crazed fool.
Tide of Blood
Dismember throws a bit of change up with this next track, leading not with crushing riffs, but instead with amazing guitar work and a lead that’ll peel the paint off of your walls. After nearly a minute of the solo, the band shifts into a bulldozing groove, laying waste to any in their path.
Combat Fatigue
At this point in a very active disc the listener (or at least my out of shape ass did) will feel a little combat fatigue as well. But don’t fear, Dismember are here to beat your tired frame into the ground with sickening riffs and scorching leads. There’s some inventive guitar work at the 2:00 minute mark accompanied with piston firing drums.
No Honour In Death
“No Honour in Death” starts off slowly with building riffs and a feel reminiscent of early Autopsy (around the time of Acts of the Unspeakable). This chugging monolith of a song is evil as all get out. It will leave you more than a little disturbed by the time it’s over — especially after the lead at the 2:30 mark.
To End It All
Spastic drums and an evil riff get “To End It All” speeding toward a hairpin turn like a meth fueled trucker at midnight. This thing is balls to the wall death metal destruction.
Dark Depth
An abysmal riff starts off “Dark Depth” setting the appropriate mood for a track that’s got a more desolate feel than the rest of the album. There’s definitely a substantial level of doom inspired metal at work on this one and it’s a nice change up from the previous songs.
Black Sun
The final song on the band’s latest starts off with some ambient noise and keyboard work. It’s definitely a dark affair as the thick riffing hits with a heavy, leather clad iron fist. The hooks on this one are insidious and malignant — the perfect way to end out the album. The band picks up the pace just before the 1:30 mark with pummeling drums and driving guitar work and never looks back.
~ ~ ~
Sweden’s Dismember only further cement their place in death metal history with an album full of sludgy, earth shaking riffs, pummeling drums and ferociousness that the band is known for. It’s pure, crushing death metal at it’s best.
Favorite Tracks:
All of them
Additional Notes:
N/A