New Standard Elite 2013
1.Hideous Suffering Within The Forsaken Dimensions 2.Enlightened Through Introspection
3.Beheading The Prophets Of Hope 4.Spewing Venomous Supremacy
5.Neuroleptic Malignancy 6.Severing The Divine Iniquity
7.Throne Of Repulsive Torment 8.Flesh Sculpted Atrocity
9.Abhorrent Remnants Of The Defied Being
Debut full length album from one man death metal machine
Laceration was highly anticipated in the underground after some very successful
self-releases and label compilations (Tortured Inauguration). Opening up the
album is ‘Hideous Suffering Within The Forsaken Dimensions’ which actually
begins life quite tamely, allowing a tension to be built before all hell breaks
loose in a mass of technical riffing and blasting drums. When Hamish and Co
blast, they blast! Tom Walker (Scatorgy) was recruited to drum on this album
and it was definitely a good decision, his talents behind the kit definitely
complementing Hamish’s technical and precise guitar work perfectly. ‘Enlightened
Through Introspection’ is a monstrous affair,
blasting open in a pummelling barrage of blast beats and heavy and technical guitar
work. Slam 'breaks' are introduced into the track and really work well in amongst
the manic sections, breaking the song up extremely well, giving the
listener short respite before the ultra-blasting passages let loose once again. ‘Behead
The Prophets Of Hope’ continues on in a similar theme, blasting from start to
finish with some slam orientated sections again used to break the track up well.The slower slamming heavy death metal really sucks the air
from your lungs, plunging into a deep low end pit of nastiness.
‘Spewing Venomous
Supremacy’ appears to even more brutal than the previous track (if that is
possible!!); it’s an absolute mind-fuck of insanely fast drumming (read gravity
blasts), overtly technical guitar work and an ultra-guttural vocal delivery
straight from the belly of the beast. As with the previous tracks, the song
structure used is very similar, but is working very well so there’s no reason
to really scrutinise the continued use – it works and works well. ‘Neuroleptic Malignancy’
begins life slightly differently, a slight melodic edge to the opening riffs,
but only slight and 'normal service' is resumed as yet another barrage of brutal death metal is again unleashed. As the track draws to a close the pace is dropped right down
and the melodic riffs heard at the beginning of the track are re-introduced and
work really well to end the song on. Hamish’s guttural vocals working really
well against the backdrop of the more melodic guitar work. Title track ‘Severing
The Divine Iniquity’ is another beast of a track, an absolute whirlwind of
technical and brutal death metal played and lightning speeds throughout most of
its entirety. Even when the track does
slow down, it’s not for long – a fitting title track indeed! ‘Throne Of
Repulsive Torment’ serves up more of what has been served up previously. Blast isn’t really enough to describe the
faster sections, they take on an absolutely crazed feel, but an extremely controlled
feel and sound which definitely prevents the songs from becoming muddied in a
haze of raging drums and guitars and it is definitely testament to these guys’
abilities on their chosen instruments.
‘Flesh Sculpted Atrocity’ is another
older song, but fits in perfectly on the album and shows competent and consistent song writing, which is what you would expect really! ‘Abhorrent Remnants Of The
Defiled Being’ closes proceedings and it would appear the best has been left
til last. Not sure what has happened, but this song sounds so tight, so
together and a real step up (not that the previous tracks weren’t tight or together).
It’s a massive song to end things on; paces once again varied from the barrage of
blasts down the horrendous slimy crawl and slam tinged slower sections. Vocally
it’s as brutal as you are likely to hear on any brutal death metal album.
Hamish has worked very hard to get where he is today and all the hard work has definitely
paid off. With the studio line up being completed by Chris Ryan (Party Cannon –
Iniquitous Savagery) on bass, Hamish has managed to produce an absolute monster
of an album that is packed full of songs that ooze everything you want from
brutal death metal – blasting drums, raging guitar work, ultra-guttural vocals
all played with a technical efficiency that sounds flawless. Hamish’s song
writing and playing has taken on a more technical sound than his previous
release, but this shows a man improving, learning and absolutely slaying on his
guitar and in his song writing and composition/song structuring. If you don’t own
a copy of this album, then you’re missing out as it is one of the most brutal
releases to come out of the UK in some time and comes very highly recommended.
8.5 Out of 10
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