Review of Dark Disciple - Kill Everything Worship Nothing

Opening an album with the sound of someone coughing out a pretty impressive hit off a bowl is a sure-fire way of letting your audience know what's in store. I can appreciate it, even if it is a little too Cheech & Chong. Baltimore's Dark Disciple is one of those bands you and I have heard many times before that lay out respectably solid death/gore styled metal that throws in a shitload of black humor and over the top tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Like those other hundred or so death/gore bands' albums, the music on Kill Everything Worship Nothing is anything but funny, but the overall presentation makes it difficult to take too seriously. It’s enjoyable, passes the time, and not much else.

I’m hearing quite a bit of Deicide and Cannibal Corpse on this album, some Dismember here and there, and a little Obituary, which isn’t a bad thing. “One In The Chamber”, has a really nice, to-the-point groove with a cool blast exchange, “Bottle Of Piss” is an effective opener with tons of time changes, different variations of basic but interesting riffs, and a really strong vocal pattern during the chorus. The sliding riffs during “Kill U, Fuck U, Eat U, Shit U Out” are pretty badass, even if the song ends with a clip from Dumb and Dumber, and take three guesses which one it is. Dark Disciple is a talented band, I just wish they’d done more to show it off with their songwriting, and why they insisted on dumbing themselves down is beyond me.

Unfortunately, there really isn’t much here to get excited over when it’s all said and done. There are riffs up one side and down the other on this album, but only a few really jumped out and grabbed me with any sort of tight hold (“Prey For Death” containing most of them). The production is a little ghetto; hollow drum sound, slightly thin guitar tone, vocals front and center at all times, and a very elusive bass floating somewhere in the background. Their cover of “Skull Full Of Maggots” is worthy of a nod of approval, but also seals their fate in showing how much they sound like a Cannibal Corpse tribute band, with caveman lyrics.

Dark Disciple is at its best when locked into a steady slower, or mid-paced groove and keeping things simpler, when they attempt a more technical or intricate direction they are still adequate, but sometimes tend to loosen up a bit and lose their rhythm. I’m nitpicking because I have to. From a personal standpoint, I’d really like to hear what Rez could do if he fleshed out his solos a little more and cleaned up his lead playing, because the dude has some great ideas that really could have been nailed hard if they were executed with more skill. Likewise, drummer Maddog puts forth a surprisingly textured performance with cool cymbal work and small, catchy rolls all over the place, but also isn't always the tightest guy I've heard behind the kit.

I’ll admit this isn’t a great review, mainly because Kill Everything Worship Nothing honestly just doesn’t make much of an impact on me one way or the other. It’s solid, gory, sophomoric death metal that shows no glaring flaws other than an extreme lack of originality and a B-grade level of humor. Maybe that’s what you’re all about, and if it is, you’ve just struck gold, I just can’t see myself returning to this again in the near future. Another one for the collectors of all things putrid.

Release Details

Dark Disciple

Kill Everything Worship Nothing

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