Offending, Age of Perversion
Calculating, technical and pummeling, Offending’s latest full-length, Age of Perversion is a solid slab of modern death metal in a similar vein of early Morbid Angel and Immolation. Throw in some groove and a solid helping of melody and you’ve got yourself a pretty damn good album that’s packed to the brim with dynamic song writing and layers of destruction.
“Infested by His Burden” starts the album off with cold guitars and a bit of melancholic melody as the band builds over the first minute and a half to a galloping rhythm, growling vocals and searing leads (which there are a lot of throughout the album, so pay attention). The dual attack of guitarists Gropoli and Manu will have your head on a swivel as they bounce all over the place within each song. The drum work of Vincent Roubière is spot on as he keeps the tempo on point only interrupting the mid-tempo gallop with animalistic blasts.
“Within This World” and “Modern Enslavement” are both capable, technical death metal tracks, but it’s the groovy, catchy-as-fuck “Dominion XXI” where the band really throws you a curve ball. The track is all over the place in terms of rhythms, groove and technical leads, but it oddly works out quite well and is a highlight on the album. From then on the band keeps the bruising groove and technical flourishes flowing like a freshly slit throat with the mid-paced chug of “Religion Depravity” and a memorable title track — both of which are punctuated with nicely timed eruptions of searing leads and blasting drums.
“Hopeless Submission” and “Raped by Religion” are two of the more technically-minded tracks on the album and deliver a solid bit of aggression in the process while album closer, “Devotion,” is just that, an instrusmental closer showcasing the band’s use of technicality and melody.
Age of Perversion is a solid effort from these French purveyors of death. At times technical while still maintaining a solid groove through the rhythm section, the album is one that I’m sure will be stuck in continuous rotation at least for the remainder of the year.