DECAPITATED
Poland's DECAPITATED got a lot of praise with Winds Of Creation and reviewers could not help but mention the youthful nature of the musicians. Certainly when one hears just how technical and efficient they are, I too am astounded. A couple of years ago I got my first listen of this band and I admit that at that time I was just not pulled in. Perhaps my love for the more technical end of the Death Metal spectrum had not fully taken root but when my contributor John insisted that I must have both albums by DECAPITATED, I capitulated. Oh what a grand decision!When Nihility opens up after a short intro, the uncaged aggression of the aural attack is striking. I first listened to this while driving to a local cafe and I had to sit in the driver's seat for several minutes after parking to fully grasp what I was hearing. Its an incredible first listen indeed. The blasting and shredding are truly remarkable; both heavy and tight with a purist's production. I got so into the album I had a hard time extracting myself from my vehicle and before I knew it, 3 tracks had elapsed. My head was spinning.
DECAPITATED are the very incarnation of we so often coin as Brutal Death Metal but with a decidedly polished and technical nature. While most fans will take note of the absolutely awesome guitar assault, it wont be long until you slap your forehead and wonder how you didn't ingest some of the most prolific double bass drumming of the year. One could easily cry out 'drum machine'!! However, this is the real deal folks, and the precision stays firm from track one on.
The album isn't huge on depth or varied a great deal but it does have strong memorable qualities, which arise out of the construct of certain tracks like the goliath "Spheres Of Madness" (you will play this over and over, I promise!). DECAPITATED spend a lot of time blasting away at insane speeds but they balance the attack with the occasional break, allowing the listener to catch a quick breath before the madness resumes. Vocally you are not in for any big surprises although when you listen closely you might chuckle at the heavy Polish accent on top of the growls.
Nihility successfully follows the tradition in Poland of technical Metal that generally grounds itself in brutality. DECAPITATED have to be considered among Poland's elite Death Metal acts after this pulverizing release. I only wish the 35 minutes the album offers could have been stretched a bit because I am already dying to hear more.
John's rating: 8.5
