The Dead
Self Titled
6.7
Of all the belated releases we got for review from Austrailia’s Obsidian Records, my favorite is the full length debut from Brisbane’s The Dead.
Plying a style of gnarly, groovy old school death metal that seems to cull from both of Deicide’s early primal demo work to the crawling ick of Autopsy and a dash of bay area groove thrown in for good measure, The Dead is a raw, festering 29 minute debut that makes no bones about being the anti modern death metal. No triggers, no layered forced pig squeals, no samples, no melody, just a vile slab of scrawling, squealing mush.
Mike Yee has a pure, gruff old school grunt while the bass of Adam Keleher is a dominating, twang and rumble that’s the centerpiece of the band's chaotic sloppy tones. From the opening blast and groove of “Hunting Humans”, through the urgent jumble of “Onslaughter” and earthy rumble of “Nameless Enemy”, bass slapping frenzy of "The Dead" to the excellent doom lope of 6 minute closer "The Doomsayer”, The Dead alternate from twangy bass driven, spazzy ant documentary meets death metal spasms to crawling, lumbering grooves. Both are filthy, pusy, yet fiercely raw and no frills examples of death metal.
If you like your death metal polished, triggered and clean (i.e. Psycroptic), The Dead is not for you. However, if you like your death metal, sloppy, infected and ridden with sore and puss, The Dead should worm its way into your brain with due haste.
Related
The DeadRitual Executions
6/28/2010
The DeadNocturnal Funeral
10/7/2008