Among The Decayed
A Perfect Day For Terror
8.1
People seem to be put off by Dying Fetus comparisons, and I apologize that I am being forced to give one. Among the Decayed sound a lot like Dying Fetus, although there is a thrash influence that sets them apart from that band, as they sound like Fetus would have if they had ditched the breakdowns and stuck to more up-tempo stuff instead. This short EP, A Perfect Day For Terror, is very enjoyable to listen to, and is definitely one of the best recordings I’ve heard by an unsigned band.
The riffs on A Perfect Day For Terror tend to be pretty fast-paced, and instead of just stringing sections together, we get to hear an ever-evolving riff pattern throughout each song, where everything sounds like it is arranged the way it should be, instead of being disjointed and out of place. The material is pretty catchy, save for the straight blast sections, which don’t come up too often. The breakdowns that crop up are more like mid-paced thrash than they are like the hardcore-style breakdowns typical of percussive death metal. Altogether, it’s well-written and well-performed.
The guitar playing on A Perfect Day For Terror is skillful and relatively technical, while the drums do not disappoint with their constant barrage. It’s hard to distinguish exactly what the bass guitar is doing, although the low end can be heard. The vocals set the band up for another Dying Fetus comparison, as they are alternating low/high, sounding a lot like the aforementioned band, although Among the Decayed’s low vocals are a bit more piggish.
The production is very good for what is presumably a low budget recording. The drums, guitars, and vocals all have great tones, and are mixed at complimentary volumes, and the guitar has a hefty crunch to it. As noted, the bass occasionally gets a bit lost, but that’s a small complaint. It’s a really professional mix, and sounds much better than what most unsigned bands would be able to come up with.
Among the Decayed are a band I have never heard of, but now that I’ve listened to A Perfect Day For Terror, I have to wonder why they don’t have a record deal. The band is doing pretty much everything right, and I have trouble thinking of any complaints I have about this release. For an album of this style, it has very few faults, and I suggest that readers check the band out.
