Dying Fetus | ‘Descend into Depravity’

It’s fair to say that at this stage of the game you know what you’re going to get with Dying Fetus. Shredmaster General and sole original member John Gallagher has managed to retain a hefty reputation for the Maryland band over the past decade, with a clutch of brutal deathgrind albums spanning the gap since their seminal ‘Destroy the Opposition’ release in 2000.

The group’s catchiness and adherence to that solid formula of technicality and gut-bursting growls remain at the core of their sound, and this release doesn’t change their style one iota, right down to the shockingly bad cover art being secured as usual. This time we’re treated to some shitily rendered gunman resembling Ron Perlman glaring out of the sleeve.

While ‘Descend into Depravity’ doesn’t go anywhere near reinventing the wheel, it seems that they’ve at least applied the brakes to it somewhat, with considered speed and more breakdowns that usual on display.

One thing you can always count on them for is a killer opening track, and ‘Your Treachery Will Die With You’ fills that gap nicely here. Featuring plenty of sweep guitar riffs and vicious growls from vocalist Sean Beasley, it prophetically holds back on the brutality in the mid section before coming in swinging with a chug section, typifying the relative restraint they exhibit on the following tracks.

Maybe it’s the influence of them writing and recording as a three piece for the first time, but the band seem to have taken a step back and let the instruments breathe in the majority of tracks. The frantic bass breakout on the title track is a particularly interesting instance, but highlights more how the mix is set up completely without bass in mind, rather than showcasing any of successful divergence from Gallagher’s dominance.

Despite these somewhat cosmetic changes, there are few intrinsic things that have changed in the Fetus camp with this release. The super-changed riffs are still whipped out at regular intervals, and breakdowns are still lumber away as heftily as ever and Beasley is still growling his guts out right into the listener’s face.

While it seems increasingly unlikely that they’ll ever reach the heights of catchiness and headbangability that the Talley era marked, there’s still plenty here to keep the dedicated brutality fan pretty happy. The snap and snarl of ‘Ethos of Coercion’ alone showcases that they still have it in them to dish out punishment with abandon, and there’s little that can be criticised about the strength of their delivery.

Those unfamiliar with the group would still do better to better to investigate the group’s late 90s hayday. Longer term fans should know what to expect, and should be duly satisfied, if unsurprised. Those few minor changes at least give the record a decent sense of character and help it stand out against their last few releases.

3/5 - Lorcan Archer ::: 08/11/09