Hell’s Headbangers Records - 2022
9.5/10
A couple years ago, the Texan death metal act Church Of Disgust hit my radar with their Veneration Of Filth, hinting at something interesting without fully selling me. A few tracks dropped last year as well, which felt refined enough. But it was the recent Weakest Is The Flesh that truly reeled me in. The aim has always been something geared toward the OSDM sound, and that’s always been obvious. Here is where I feel like they got an identity that stood out.
Vocally, this teeters the line of David Vincent-esque classic coarse delivery and something a bit more contemporary, along the lines of Ectoplasma. The mix itself is wonderful, something that the older releases lack, and the placement alongside the solos and monstrous riffing feels wonderfully balanced. Moreover, the groovier element doesn’t hold back an inch, solidifying this as something truly excellent. Combinations of doomy rumble with chuggier momentum under a more rapid coat of paint is the trick that reaches satisfaction.
Seriously, chops like the ones on here are wildly memorable for such a filthy style, rivaling that of Undeath’s first full-length. Bass plays a very heavy role in this; the suspense created by it in “Horrific Anthema” breaking into an almost melodic lead is unmatched. Follow this up with a crushing solo, and you’ve got the entire stage set. This is taken to a higher degree in the title track, a long tune that reaches close to being an epic. Dig up more traditional chops with screeching overlays in “Humiliated Remains,” locking in the emphasis on head-splitting rhythmic clarity.
Other areas of Weakest Is The Flesh rely heavily on more of a doom/death element. Repetition naturally occurs here, seen in the bridge of “That Which Dwells In The Gloom,” flip-flopping between a raw, faster approach and gloomier chugs. The crushing weight of “Seemingly Unnatural Infestations” assumes its position with a cold, looming intro topped with some of the most ferocious percussion. This very percussion is carried into the bridge near the end, executed even more impressively.
It may have taken a bit of time, but Church Of Disgust have finally entered the ranks of my favorite modern death metal acts. The echoed production did so much for them, especially with the drums. While there’s really nothing that hasn’t been done before, there’s an incredible level of talent, and the songwriting tactics are woven together beautifully beside the slimy aesthetic.
Listen -> Bandcamp
No comments:
Post a Comment