ALBUM REVIEW: Entering The Gateways – Disguised Malignance
2023. The year that keeps on giving when it comes to extreme metal releases. Week in week out we’ve been treated to some truly spectacular music. Traditionally, this is the time of year where many folk take stock and turn thoughts towards the album of the year list. There’s still plenty of time obviously, and there’s still many upcoming albums that will take a well-earned top spot. For example, Entering The Gateways from Finnish death metallers DISGUISED MALIGNANCE is sure to cause more than a ripple among the death metal community and beyond. Despite only recently settling on a full line-up having operated as a duo for much of their four-year existence, DISGUISED MALIGNANCE have honed a sharp craft when it comes to the delivery of guttural vocals and commanding riffs delivered with a hint of old school groove. Entering The Gateways represents their first full-length release and as debuts go, it’s an absolute riot.
Three short, sharp, snare hits. That’s it, that’s your warning before a 34-minute all out aural assault begins. Gates To Nihil is our introduction to DISGUISED MALIGNANCE and what a way to announce yourselves. A groove-laden powerhouse of crushing rhythms and colossal riffs, neatly paired with an edge of Lovecraftian horror generating an ethereal quality that is hard to define but is prevalent from the opening track right the way through the album.
Tracks such as Unearthly Extinction and Malignant Visions represent some stellar high points of this debut. The power generated by the rhythm section belies the fact this is a young band. They’ve produced a monstrous sound akin to a band that are old hands at this genre. The instance of the riffs crafted by Daniel Gamache and Tuure Suomalainen drive each track like an unstoppable eldritch terror devouring all in their path.
While the unified delivery of the instrumentation is to be lauded particularly as it perfectly accentuates the ferocious vocal delivery of Felix Pennanen, there are a couple of musical moments that illustrate that this is a band that are still progressing their style. Specifically, Disengagement Into Eternity and Beyond (Entering The Gateways) contain brief interludes led by the bass, and while the moments are well executed, there is a moment of misfire in an engine that is running on all cylinders. The intention is clear, but whether it is the mix or just the dynamic shift, there is a loss of the earnest nature of the wider album. The texture quickly thickens back and the course of the music is re-established. These are only very minor criticisms and certainly nothing to derail the album as a whole. They do highlight a point that will allow for growth and development in their style.
A little rough around the edges perhaps, but that is often the way with a debut from a fresh-faced band such as this. However, the quintet have absolutely nailed the statement of intent with Entering The Gateways. It is more than enough for people to sit up and take notice of what they’ve accomplished and like all great inaugural records it will act as a spring board for more to come. In a year glutted with memorable albums, these eight tracks will absolutely make their presence known for all the right reasons.
Rating: 8/10
Entering The Gateways is set for release on September 29th via Prosthetic Records.
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