ALBUM REVIEW: The Fallen Entities – Opprobrium

Whichever way you choose to look at it, New Orleans death metal fire-starters OPPROBRIUM are a fascinating case study. While the band has taken many different shapes and sizes in its life-form over the past three decades, brothers Francis and Moyses Howard have remained staples of the concept, seemingly heaving it back into prominence once a decade. Though 10 years removed from their last record Mandatory Evac, the Howard brothers seem no less motivated to cause a storm through the playtime of The Fallen Entities. At this stage in the game you’d be justified in expecting this record to crawl through the motions, but you’ll find great satisfaction in the length this albums goes to cut its teeth.

The instant sludge of Dark Days, Dark Times opening riff is a blade to the senses that goes on to possess a welcome, yet surprising amount of groove – your average tropes of death metal of course make an appearance too; chaotic blast beats, and tearing vocals. It’s a poignant and heavy welcome home sign for the bands existing fan base. Recorded by both brothers at their home studio, it’s clear that the Howard duo are cognisant of the atmosphere they sound best in. The reverberating intensity of guitar strings and toms on Creations That Affect and Throughout The Centuries gives the chaos an inclusive effect – close your eyes and you could probably convince yourself you’re in the studio with them.

Where OPPROBRIUM flirt heavily with concept of falling flat on this record is in their apparent lack to move their goalposts. Is this death metal with a fire in its stomach? Sure, but it’s nothing you won’t have found from this band before with the exception of some glossy tempo changes. And while the chances are you’re unlikely to go into this record expecting an outfit of OPPROBRIUM‘s style and demeanour to dabble in experimentation at this stage in their careers, it’s never too late to reinvent the wheel – a concept the duo would potentially have greatly benefited from here.

Though The Fallen Entities doesn’t do anything to give new life to the band, that doesn’t feel like it was the bands goal either. Instead this all feels like a heavy reminder that OPPROBRIUM are still after your throat, and it’s very much mission accomplished. Turmoil Under The Sun sounds like a bar room brawl of stop/start gut punches, and the title track is a rhythmic central blast of low growls and flickering riffs.

Considering when OPPROBRIUM released their debut album under the name INCUBUS way back in 1986, the same year METALLICA dropped their classic Master Of Puppets, it’s an achievement in itself that they’re still snapping necks. Outside of that though what you find within The Fallen Entities is a record that reeks of death metal plumage, these brothers like to show off what they’re best at: and that’s hard hitting death metal.

Rating: 7/10

The Fallen Entities is out now via High Roller Records. 

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