ALBUM REVIEW: IT – Deathbringer

Unique Leader Records seem to have a knack for scooping up promising talent from every edge of the earth. A shining example is DEATHBRINGER, who are aiming to take a slice of the spotlight for Belarus. Their sophomore album entitled IT has been more than a decade in the making and it is finally being unveiled on July 15th. How will it fare in one of the most fiercely contested subgenres in metal?

Delta is already bringing the surprises; not beginning as you’d expect, it instead provides some eerie piano notes that lead into the vicious volley of drumming courtesy of Frozen Beliefs. The erratic tempo shifts are enough to give you whiplash. Terrifying vocal outbursts assault your ears as you are immersed in crazy waves of technically proficient aggression. Per Aspera immediately puts you on edge with swelling synths and unnerving mechanical creaking. Before you know it you are face to face with a wall of relentless instrumentation. Wild and unpredictable violence hits you from every conceivable angle.

Ypsilon offers up yet another intriguing intermission, littered with electronic experimentation. As calming as it is you are prepared to be punched straight between the eyes at a moment’s notice. A Place To Exist proves to be even more perplexing and eccentric than you first anticipated. Sheer unbridled carnage erupts leaving you feeling bewildered and unsure whether you’re actually enjoying this insanity. Pitfall maintains the rhythmic pummelling, descending into chaotic dissonance. The orchestral elements provide some breathing space which at this stage is very welcome.

Theta is particularly harrowing as the isolated vocals are riddled with despair and hopelessness. The unsettling whispering combined with blood-curdling screams is like an excerpt from a horror movie. Nihil Messiah resumes the regularly scheduled programming by battering what remains of your dwindling mental stability. The combination of jarring riff work and maniacal lead work will have your head in a spin. Lambda delves back into the industrial realm, conjuring up a tense and intimidating soundscape. Inevitability has only one goal in mind: ripping your limbs from your body and then proceeding to mercilessly beat you with them. The gut-wrenching growls are laced with pure hatred and disdain.

Impartial Beholder exudes menace, like there is something lurking in the shadows ready to pounce and sink its teeth into your neck. True to form it springs into life, reeling off copious torrents of brutality that ebb and flow in pace. Tau and Omega could quite easily have been stitched together considering their brief runtimes. The former proves to be quite irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. IT harbours some of the most destructive, barbaric elements this release has to offer. Whilst not entirely as frenetic, it still hits like a bulldozer. Epsilon throws a total curveball into the mix, offering up clean vocals and a minimalistic approach. In a sense it brings IT round full circle, departing as it arrived.

DEATHBRINGER have constructed quite the puzzling prospect as IT is difficult to wrap your head around. Whilst evidently firmly placed in the technical death metal domain, there is a whole host of experimental touches which blur the lines somewhat. Whether this proves to be confusing or a stroke of genius is up for debate. The sheer level of extremity can prove tough to digest at some stages and this could divide listeners. It will be intriguing to see what the next step resembles for the Belarusian beasts.

Rating: 8/10

IT is set for release on July 15th via Unique Leader Records.

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