ALBUM REVIEW: Scourge Upon Humanity – Pillory

2020 is drawing to a close and you would be forgiven in being glad to see the back of it. Before it departs it may have one more ferocious album up its sleeve in the form of Scourge Upon Humanity, the newly released third album by Boston-based death metal outfit PILLORY which is available now via Unique Leader Records. This album was initially due for release in October, has the delay paid dividends?

Depleted Mortal Prosperity has no intention of letting you settle or get comfortable as its discordant, eccentric tones have an uneasiness flowing through them. You aren’t quite sure what is about to unfold. The frenzy begins to build with frantic drumming and chugging riffs before it descends into the next level of carnage, battering you from all angles with vicious vocal bursts. Diluted Existence follows suit with twisting, turning riffs that leave your head in a spin. Guttural bellows and volleys of blast beats heighten the anarchy on display. Initially Synergistic Diffusion isn’t quite as chaotic as its predecessors but still leaves you feeling wary with its ominous, dramatic soundscape that is bolstered by keyboard and synth segments. It doesn’t take too long before the relentless savagery begins to seep in.

Emanate Deprecation comes hurtling at you like a speeding train with sharp, jabbing riffing that is accompanied by barbaric flourishes of swift drumming and emphatic bass lines. Mind melting shredding and eccentric technicality joins the melting pot of insane intricacy in this 11 minute assault on your senses that refuses to subside for split second. There is still a lot of runtime remaining in this release and Inherent Genetic Collapse keeps the feverish intensity at optimum levels. At times there are so many layers chopping and changing it can be a challenge to keep a grip on it all but that is also what makes it so exhilarating. Envisaged Transmutation throws a curveball into the mix with a solemn, theatrical approach which is reminiscent of a film score. Swathes of operatic vocals linger in the background to perfectly accompany the composition. This moment of soothing splendour doesn’t last for too long as the aggression begins to dial its way back up the scale once more.

After what has followed you half expect Epidemic Infection to go full belt and leave you in a sea of dust but it gradually builds the tension with jazzy, melodic tones that lure you in effortlessly before the track begins to metamorphosise into a bloodthirsty beast, hungry for your flesh. Blood curdling screams make their presence instantly felt. Imminent Obliteration introduces some enticing grooves which wouldn’t feel out of place in a MESHUGGAH album, channelling bludgeoning tones and leaving chaos in its wake. Our Wretched Divinity sustains the hammering blows with punishingly proficient drum work and demonic growls that will have the hair on the back of your neck raising in terror.

Calculating Progressive Extinction ensures the ever present brutality will continue to wreak havoc right until the concluding moments as the shifts in tempo are enough to leave dents in your skull. Transitioning from crazily executed riffs to destructive syncopation this short piece flows directly into the finale, Terminus. Interestingly rather than opt for one final charge of fury to leave you reeling PILLORY have chosen to proceed with several minutes of tense whirring, clattering and pounding which sounds like you’re walking through some demented factory of nightmares. Whether this was the right decision is up for interpretation but it isn’t bewildering enough to tarnish the overall product.

Just when we thought 2020 had no further surprises to offer us PILLORY have ensured that the calibre of releases stays at a staggeringly high level right until the final weeks. Scourge Upon Humanity is an intense experience which some may not manage to digest in one sitting but for anyone who enjoys extreme and forward-thinking death metal with a technical edge will absolutely lap this one up. Hopefully there is still time for this release to get the recognition it deserves in the fabled end of year lists.

Rating: 9/10

Scourge Upon Humanity is out now via Unique Leader Records. 

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