EP REVIEW: Deathlust – Living Gate

In 2020, death metal is stronger than ever. It’s countless branches of sub-genres are generally in fine health, while the core root of the genre – that traditional, old-school death metal sound – is enjoying a new wave of talent not scene since the genre’s formative years. Made up of members of YOB, OATHBREAKER and WIEGEDOOD, newcomers to the scene LIVING GATE are armed with a partnership with the prestigious Relapse Records for their debut EP – but can the collective bring something fresh to a resurgence already growing fat with dead weight, or is there something lacking in the band’s debut release? 

The most frustrating aspect of Deathlust is how much potential it has. With a lineup as strong as LIVING GATE‘s, Deathlust should be a mindblowing introduction to the band – unfortunately this isn’t the case. It’s good, don’t be mistaken, maybe even great at points, but there’s a certain spark, an undercurrent of brilliance that is missing – and with the old-school death metal revival in full swing, anything missing that spark of brilliance just isn’t going to cut through the noise.

Opening track The Delusion of Consciousness is a solid start, bringing groove and bursts of visceral aggression – though its real highlight, and indeed a highlight of Deathlust as a whole, comes from Levy Seynaeve‘s vocal performance. Throughout the groove-heavy bruiser, he outshines the rest of LIVING GATE in his delivery. The lead melodies that bring the opener to a close don’t quite fit with the rest of the track, though, coming as a jarring end, while Roped – one of the EP’s strongest tracks – creates a nice, sinister atmosphere from the get-go.

Deathlust‘s title track is solid, though again, nothing exemplary, bruising through its short run time with little to captivate, before LIVING GATE crash into the one-two closing duo of lead single Heaven Ablaze and Living Gate. Penultimate track HEAVEN ABLAZE is furious, another cut above the majority of the EP and a frustrating reminder of the kind of heights the band are capable of, while they end on a high with their eponymous offering, the melodies working excellently to juxtapose the punky, old-school aggression LIVING GATE are clearly more than capable of delivering.

You’d be hard pressed to argue that there isn’t plenty of potential on display across Deathlust. However, you’d also be hard pressed to argue that LIVING GATE are delivering anything that hasn’t already been executed to near-flawless standards a thousand times before. With the resurgence of old-school death metal already well established, new bands are, more than ever, needing something special to set them above the hordes – and as much as Deathlust is solid, even brilliant at points, it is missing that certain something. Perhaps with their debut full LP LIVING GATE will prove themselves among modern death metal’s elite, but Deathlust isn’t the game-changer it needs to be to secure their place.

Rating: 7/10

Deathlust is out now via Relapse Records. 

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