Severe Torture
Fall Of the Despised ()
Wydane przez Earache RecordsRok wydania 2005Kraj HollandNapisał Wouter8
After an EP, two full lengths and a live album on Karmageddon Media Dutch death metal unit Severe Torture present their Earache debut "Fall Of the Despised". Immediately it's clear that this album forms a departure on a number of levels compared to their previous outings. Not only is this album released on a new label, it also introduces an expanded line-up, featuring guitarist Marvin Vriesde (Blo Torch, Dew-Scented) added to the band's ranks. From opener 'Endless Strain Of Cadavers' the band shows a rejuvenated compositional muscle and a distinct freshness to their blistering material. For the first time since their debut Severe Torture don't blast their way through out the entirety of the album, leaving the tracks to breathe and flow more freely and include (for the first time ever) some memorable guitar leads. With the addition of a second guitarist, an apparent thrash groove and Dennis Schreurs' more varied vocal approach "Fall Of the Despised" breaks away from the mold the band was previously swept under. As said, vocally there's more variation present on this album. Besides his well-known grunts Schreurs here regularly applies a Mameli-era Pestilence like scream which makes his vocal lines more interesting. 'Unconditional Annihilation' is the first mid-tempo track of the album, starting with a classic Cannibal Corpse groovy build-up before going into overdrive towards the second half of the track. 'Consuming the Dying' follows in the pattern of the previous track and alternates mid-tempo sections with "Misanthropic Carnage" like blast parts. 'Impulsive Mutilation' is an entire mid-tempo track wherein vocalist Schreurs goes all-out with his Pestilence inspired vocal approach. Truly, one of the highlights of the album. 'Dead From the Waist Up' and 'Decree Of Darkness' are classic Severe Torture that contribute an amount of familiarity to the band's otherwise enriched sound. "Fall Of the Despised" sees Severe Torture coming into their own and is - without a single doubt - the most convincing record the band have written up till now. Impressive.
www.severetorture.com
