Infliction
Trails Of Obliteration
5
In the tradition of underground brutal death, Infliction fulfill all requirements: dismal production, ultra-mega triggered drumming, tag team guttural to screeching vocals, and a good amount of crude talent. They measure right up to Dying Fetus' early days, and have a sound almost identical to Texas' Prophecy. I'd like to give them a better review than what is going to follow. But the fact is that I really like this style (when it's done right), however I can barely get through this disc without ending my existence in a violent fashion. I think it's the drumming. The over triggering has got to stop. It severely detracts from any quality that is already there. It's just like punching a wet balloon over and over again. It's the same problem that has plagued Deeds of Flesh and Dying Fetus throughout their careers. It also seems as if Infliction suffers from a lack of uniformity. More than a handful of times you hear the timing go awry, and not intentionally. Drumming doesn't stay on cue with the riffing from time to time, and it's quite painful. The songs also are void of identity. They follow a formula, which isn't necessarily bad, but it's integrated so forcefully that each piece blends together. They change riffs frequently but it's almost impossible to tell them apart. The slicing solos are a slight surprise. And as usual, there's some Devourment-esque slowdowns with flying pinch harmonics, but they really lack power because of the stale shitpile production.
I'm sure the underground purists will revel in an effort such as Trails of Obliteration, but the truth is that with bands tightening up like braided cable these days and fine production easily accessible, underground brutal death can sound so much better with a bigger, more natural and balanced sound if the bands just valued it a little more. I don't want to rule Infliction out, as there are actually a few flashes brutal death goodness here. Enough to warrant a purchase? Not for me. But my guess is no one has read this review this far by now anyway (except for the band) so my opinion doesn't really matter. If your favorite label is Forever Underground Records than direct your ears this way.
