Through The Eyes Of The Dead
Malice
8.8
Production ♦
Erik Rutan has obviously progressed to become one of the most sought after in the production trade, and with good reason. The sound is chockablock with a powerful, rich low end. Mids are natural and crisp, while aerial frequencies maintain definition and integrity without the dreaded "hot mix" crackling infecting many recordings today.
Songwriting ♦
A slightly formulaic style that has no doubt indulged in steroid use since Bloodlust. Fat has been eliminated, strongpoints exploited, and intensity and focus magnified immensely. TTEOTD employ catchy, energetic mid-tempo thrash as listener hooks and then proceed to bury them in a landslide of sledgehammers. A new baritone vocal arrangement aggrandizes an atmosphere of mass ferocity. Obvious inspirations for song structure include Cannibal Corpse, Beneath the Massacre, Morbid Angel, Behemoth, & even Necrophagist.
Musicianship ♦
Superb. A fully functional group in every aspect. Family trees of riffs grow in seamless patterns. Dark harmonies are crafted with ease. Brutal chunk is enslaved and pushed to the limit. Speed and precision are exercised vigorously with noticeable results. A mechanical aura is achieved that is similar to Beneath the Massacre's work. The same can be said for the ascending tapped harmonies akin to Necrophagist, yet not quite on par with their uniformity.
Summary ♦
A refreshing revival of styles from the pillars of the death metal community from decades past seems to be underway as the years progress. At the same time, a new breed of extreme metal contributes its own characteristics and pushes the boundaries and standards even further at an accelerated pace. When this marriage is accomplished properly, and by competent musicians, exemplary results are achieved. This result is known as Malice from Through the Eyes of the Dead, and is required listening for the advancement of extreme metal culture.
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