Time for some very heavy and fast brutal death metal, courtesy of Finnish band Deepred. They formed in 1999, put out two demos, one full-length, which is this, and then 3 split releases and an EP. I've only ever managed to cross paths with this album, which I think I acquired as a second-hand copy. Why? Probably read a review in a fanzine or something... Neither the cover art nor song titles do not depict the sonics inside, because it feels more like a groove metal thing on the outside. And I am positive that around 2001 I wouldn't have picked up a groove metal album.

So, this album is pummeling. It is not about catchy songs, sadly. No matter how I try to approach this, it only leaves a feeling of me being juggernauted like no tomorrow. The bass is damn heavy, which makes it just a rumbling mass, and it's in the front of the mix. The guitars are heavy as well, but there's some slashing high-pitched work, too, but it's left in the background, thank to all the rumble; much of the guitar work is obscured, sadly, but it is there. By the way, there's a short Slayer-ish solo at the end of the album... So if that where they sold themselves (hah)?! The snare drum often cracks like a machine gun, thanks to blast beating, which is happening loads. Fast double kick drumming is also loud in the mix, joining the rumble with the bass and lower guitars. However, there's many, many drum beats offered, mostly lightning-fast in some way, so if you love brutal drumming, here's "some". The snare is snappy, but not tin-can way and the cymbals are another high-end bit. Still, it is quite demo-ish production.

Shredding is certainly on the menu, as are squeals and palm-muted riffing. This is almost devoid of lead melodies, as mainly the brutality is showed. And what I get out of the mix, the skill levels are more than okay. It's just that there's not much memorability, and this is where the album gets its biggest nosedive. Okay, there are some riffs which stick, but not handful, and it's pretty much generic through and through. It is about US-style brutal death metal riff exhibitions. One can jam to a million and one tempo changes and parts, but there's not much in vein of compass points throughout the album. Between all the bludgeoning, there's a few minutes of slower stuff in the middle of the platter, on 'A Song for the Lovers'; definitely sticks out and is wisely placed. The vocals are rusty, rather powerless growling on same pitch, and sometimes they do sound like the energy's lost, as towards end of the sentences they tend to quiet down, but at least they do not clash with the music. The lyrics do have some Napalm Death-ism in them, as topics circle around nowadays' ill societies.

With its few catchier bits, 'Prophetic Luster' is not enough to win me over. Over the years, I have tried the album many, many times, but no, it just does not get totally under my skin. It's brutal alright, but that alone is not enough; I feel songs would have needed some extra, at least a bit, as now it's skeletal without much of specialities to brag about (I mean, there's one guitar solo, right at the end of the platter!). But when spinning it on a hard day's night, I can embrace its truculence. If you're "brutal all the way" kinda guy, this one certainly causes some real damage to its surroundings, pillaging the village and smashing the scene.

Rating: 6- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
01/08/2022 10:43