EP REVIEW: All Hail The Decay – Deathing

Finnish death metal band, DEATHING, have been active since 2014, but are only just releasing their debut EP. They are comprised of guitarist and vocalist, Marko Mäkinen, drummer, Mikko Kivimäki, bassist, Rami Vartiainen, and guitarist, Aleksi Tossavainen. They state that their influences lie from the eighties and nineties bands, but also do not want to limit themselves to one decade of music due to wanting to be more flexible with their sound. The band further state that they hope they can reach people with their music. Will their debut EP, All Hail The Decay, prove that the six year wait was worth it?

First song, Kings of Terror kicks off with a electrifying guitar riff, before Mäkinen‘s vocals kick in. Unlike most death metal bands, the vocals are more reminiscent of that of bands from the 1980s. This therefore shows that the band are taking the death metal rulebook and throwing it out the window. It is inspiring to see a death metal band stand out from the crowd. This is because they show that they are not limiting themselves to the death metal formula and therefore shows the slick diversity they have when dealing with genres.

Crash & Burn is a favourite song amongst the band and it is easy to see why. Although it starts off with a slightly slower riff, it brings back the energy with the vocals. This song is more instrumental than the last one, but this does not affect the pacing of the EP so far. The instruments sound crisper, as well as the vocals. Considering this is the band’s debut EP, they certainly know the direction they are going in.

On the other hand, Dead World Alive is formulaic. This therefore makes it lacklustre compared to the previous two tracks. It is formulaic because it sounds like a reprise of the previous song and it negatively affects the pacing of the EP because it slows it down. The vocals are not as strong. The instruments feel rushed.

Only one minute and forty seconds long, Sickness is a short song. It is fast paced, and ticks all the boxes of a stereotypical death metal song. The guitar riffs are heavy; there are unclean vocals. It should not work on an EP that has been fairly consistent. But it does work. Despite its shortness, it does not sound rushed, and the band seem to know what they are doing with their respective instrumentation.

The final song is a cover of Blinded by Fear by AT THE GATES. It does not sound too different from the original due to both bands being primarily death metal bands, however, it is a nice end to the EP, and is a reminder to some people who may be doubtful that DEATHING can mix any genre well.

In conclusion, despite a formulaic song, this is a strong EP. The diversity in songs whilst also sticking to their roots is impressive. The consistency on a debut record can be hard to maintain, but DEATHING have mastered the consistency to a certain extent. The production is strong and the vocals are impressive. This band have a very bright future ahead of them.

Rating: 7/10

All Hail The Decay is out now via Inverse Records.

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