It's like the last two decades did never happen: French death metal quintet Defenestration must have forgot to check out any new music during the last 20 years, but all the better for those who enjoy the brutalities of the past... So, all death-heads enjoying old stuff, wake up, it's time to get some new stuff!

This 5-song EP, which is the 2nd release from the band after the debut demo from 2015, 'Ordinary Violence', harks back to the early days, when thrash metal had already evolved into death metal. Incantation, Immolation, Monstrosity, Sinister... You'll recognise the bits from those legends on here, and then some. Even though Defenestration aren't quite a barbaric as those names and their older stuff, this ain't balmy music.

Each of the songs consists of multiple parts and isn't a typical kind of composition. Part changes as well as tempo ones, which are fucking plentiful, sometimes disturb the flow of a song a bit. So the songwriting is not perfect. Still, this easily betters the debut demo; in every way. The pace fluctuates between mid and fast, with occasional blasting.

The guitars are both meaty and crunchy. The riffage sounds ripping, and palm muted is hammering. Some chord progressions are evil-sounding, indeed. Fast tremolo picking is also heard. Screeching of the strings is audible at times, so the production is somewhat filthy, and suitably so. There is not a single guitar solo here; this certainly isn't a band to flash off. The drums are definitely performed by a human; there are very small timing errors, but they aren't distracting. The rumbling bass guitar is audible, mingling in there with other instruments. There is nothing very technical about performances, instead it's in-your-face. The production job is loud, but not all-out-front. It is not biting, but more like miasmic.

I had no idea about the lyrics, because the voice reminding of Immolation's Ross Dolan isn't easily comprehensible. Low throaty, beary growling is the vocal style utilized here. You know, I assumed some serious stuff... However, the lyrics made me crack: the band's annoyed about conspiracies, hipsters and of course religious folks, and the lyrics are written in more or less funny storytelling way, except for 'Jizzus' which has nothing funny in it with its paedophile priest cunt). I can't tell too much without spoiling it, but there's a story including hipster and his vintage-slut, their Morris Mini and loads of guts... But believe me, it's not as predictable as you might think!

The EP was released as a digisleeve CD. Xenokorp launched "Militia Series" which aims to help new bands to get their stuff out for a cheaper price. There's a lyrics insert, so you can pretend you got a small vinyl in your hands. Limited to only 500 copies, you should act fast if you want to grab it. Well worth the asking price.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
04/18/2020 20:49