ALBUM REVIEW: Horror Beyond Horror – Defiled
Japan’s musical exploits are either well documented, or so underground that only moles have heard of half the groups that spawn from there. In the case of DEFILED, it’s oddly both ends of that graph. While they’ve spearheaded the underground death metal scene in the country since their inception in 1992, they’ve broken through to the mainstream within the last decade or so. Even with a more global audience they’ve still dug their heels into the ground and remained firm with their old school death metal sound.
Horror Beyond Horror is their latest album, and even though it’s only a year or so since their last album came out, they’re still making fresh sounding noises from their instruments and sharp cutting vocals. Abandoning the introduction tracks, they kick straight into the opening song Smoke And Mirrors with a small drum intro before the whole band blast into action. The gritty guitars of duo Shinichiro Hamada and Yusuke Sumita hit deep, paired with the pounding drums of Keisuke Hamada to pack a firm punch to the gut. Then we’re introduced to Hamada’s vocals. They sound torn and abused but in such a way that it complements the assault of heavy riffs and double kick drums.
The title track comes next and it’s the longest song on the album, clocking in at just over four minutes. Its unrelenting nature does elevate it above the majority of Horror Beyond Horror, but the album itself has some golden material that, at some point, does make the band’s older albums shrivel up in comparison. Trojan Horse, The Chains and Spectrum Of Fear all top the list in terms of sheer ferocity, with the band’s blood, sweat and tears clearly poured into these tracks especially.
As the album is 14 songs long you can’t expect everything to be solid gold. While they’re not bad tracks, there are a few instances of filler. The Terminal Phase seems a tad dull and uninspired, mainly in the guitar as compared to most of the album it takes a more simplistic turn which doesn’t work on this particular case. Syndicate also falls into the not terrible area, but it is repetitive with the same riff in the background, although the solo does make up for it. It’s not a damp feeling on the rest of the album, but it makes them stand out more for various feelings.
Although the songs are short, averaging two-and-a-half minutes, Horror Beyond Horror packs the punch some of the band’s previous albums may have missed and their energy is unmatched. And with only a year between this album and their last it’s phenomenal what they’ve done and can do in the realm of death metal.
Rating: 7/10
Horror Beyond Horror is set for release on September 20th via Season Of Mist.
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