Every day one learns something new. Today I found out, that Embrional (German language) translates to "embryonic". Anyways, Embrional are a death metal band from Poland. They definitely do not offer anything new with their music. However, if you like brutal and vicious death metal with evil atmosphere, you should probably read on.

Embrional's main positive traits are their energy, pretty technical instrumental performances, and diabolic guitar work. The energy level is both attacking and possessing. At its best, this force can enter a listener's body and violently lift it off the chair and toss it around. That's good old headbanging and shit, you know?! While the music might feel raw at first, it actually is comparatively technical. Mainly, the pace is fast, but the band have the ability to smoothly enter slower realms, and this only makes things more interesting. Most of the time the atmosphere is more or less accursed, due to guitar work. The guitar tone is rather high and also kind of ripping at times. There are both percussive riffing and that sort which conjures evil spirits, a lot of this being open string stuff. The rhythms vary from straight ones to more indirect, warped ones.

As aforementioned, I find Embrional's music way too familiar. Their mixture of Polish death metal and Incantation / Immolation style offers nothing new. It is very tempting at first, but in the end, does not gratify me to the fullest, not even well. The music does not stumble to its technicality, but to its insensibility. It is just that, that there are not so many hooks and things to cling to, really. This is the albums biggest, and pretty much sole, real demerit.

Production-wise this is pretty clear, when considering the music style. It still holds certain rawness to it, which only makes it better. The bass guitar is the only thing that is somewhat indistinct, but otherwise it is loud and blasting. There are some effected things here and there to bring in more atmosphere. The b/w artwork is fitting and well enough crafted. The lyrical themes include anti-religious stuff, of course, as well as suicide, killing and other forms of madness. Nothing new here, either. Vocals are mostly powerful low growling, with some more high-pitched growls thrown into the mix.

This is close to being good stuff, but is crippled by music, that misses songs that are hammered to brain. In a way, they are, but generally it's just not so memorable. Good performances, nice production (not nice in a gay way), and some almost catchy stuff. But it's not enough in a long run. Come on guys, you really must get out those killer pieces next time around! Which I truly believe would happen, because this is so close.

A new look almost two years later: I have spinned this album quite a lot lately. It's because I got the band's 'Annihilation 2007 + Live' (the demo reissued with lives tracks) for reviewing. The album is brutal, and the band hammer in the songs, no matter whether they got less or more hooks in them. 'Absolutely Anti-Human Behaviors' is an enjoyable death metal album, and today, it deserves a higher score. This slays!!! The main review was written in November 2nd, 2012, and I gave it a score of 7- out of 10.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
09/11/2014 21:07