Review of Disinter - Demonic Portraiture

The "Swedish sound" influence is really starting to show in American metal. Everyone knows there's going to be bands that will be carbon-copies and others will throw their own twist on it or take it to the next level. Disinter is the second kind of band mentioned. They have the unrelenting aggressive attack of American Death Metal, but with a bit of the Swedish sound showing through, with some of the good grooves and melodies found in the album. It comes as no surprise though that they show a bit of the Swedish influence considering they have a great cover of the song Blinded By Fear by the band that started it all, At The Gates. Disinter is also a great example of the brutality that can come out of the Midwestern United States(the band hails from Chicago, Illinois). These guys are uncompromising when it comes to the brutality. The musicianship on the album is great. As I mentioned above the guitar riffs are a great mix of American and Swedish death metal. I'm surprised more bands haven't started using this formula. I really like the haunting clean intro on the opening song The First and Last in Battle. After it finishes the sonic assault on the ears begins. All the songs on the album are great, but the ones I really like are What Once Was, Again Shall Be (great song for a live set), The Hunter's Moon and The First and Last in Battle. Zion's vokills are amazing. He has a great death growl, and a haunting almost black metal like screaming voice. He pulls it off great live too. I really like most of the lyrics on this album, it's pretty evil stuff without resorting to talking about satanism. Some are a little clichéd, but overall the good heavily outweighs the bad. I really like the lyrics for the song An Eternity of Pain, where they mock the stupidity of the Holy Inquisition. The production at times is a bit raw and could have been a bit better, but never mars the overall quality of the album. I would recommend this to any death metal fan, and anyone looking for a great, much heavier take on the Swedish sound. Buy it now and you too will be as eager as I am for Disinter's next album.

Release Details

Disinter

Demonic Portraiture

Comments

Related