Mutilated Soul
Decomposition
6.9
This 28-minute slab of death isn’t a bad start for Italy’s Mutilated Soul. Decomposition oozes U.S.-influenced death metal, circa early to mid 1990s, and thus is a sound certainly not unheard of, but one that remains tough to pull off convincingly. Luckily, Mutilated Soul do it justice.
Right off, “Bloodletting” has that classic DM tone, even though the production could use some bulking up. It’s a tad flat for the style, and, for what it’s worth, my liking. Still, each instrument strikes clearly, the unintelligible growls lead the onslaught forcefully, and the [adjective] [noun] [verb] [adverb]. Problematic, however, is the fact that opener “Bloodletting” and follower “Decomposition of Soul” rely too much on a straightforward approach, offering little variation until their respective middles and ends. Sure, high spit-soaked rasps enter regularly, and the cymbal play a la Crowpath adds differentiation to the usual, but overall it’s difficult to praise Mutilated Soul based on the first chunks of the above-listed songs. The leads and tempo changes are refreshing in “Decomposition of Soul” – as well as the catchy, audible bass lines – and can ultimately be classified as the track’s saving graces.
“Towards My Grave” begins with the a similar tempo as the other two, while “Beyond Nothingness” wisely chooses to slow down, which allows time for thick mid-paced chugging, like on “Barathrum,” and drum fills galore. “Infernal Requiem” is a find, too, since Mutilated Soul’s melodic tendencies rarely manifest themselves in such an open, outright manner. The closer, which will be of little importance for most listeners, is the Italian version of “Infernal Requiem.”
So, this Italian five-piece project an Americanized death metal sound from an earlier era. Decomposition isn’t overwhelming, stellar, or anything of that magnitude, but it’s a nice take on a style that’s welcome in many circles. Keep at it.
