EP REVIEW: Delirium – Deathrite

Leipzig’s DEATHRITE have never seemed all that worried about fitting into any one box; at least, not beyond the general catch-alls of violence and misery. Over the past decade or so, the five-piece have built a small but devoted following with a run of records that touch on grindcore, death metal, noise, black metal and more. Their output has slowed down a little lately though, with Delirium marking their first release since 2018’s Nightmares Reign. It’s a sharp, savage EP – one whose 24-minute runtime feels quite generous given what’s typically a more condensed format.

Of course, DEATHRITE make full use of that runtime to cover a fair bit of ground. It starts out pretty death metally, with the title track and Repulsive Obsession both dealing in a cavernous, ENTOMBED-esque sound. The latter hits especially hard, its tempo ranging from thunderous grooves to more high-speed death ‘n’ roll fare. The production here and throughout is quite rough and ready, with echo-laden vocals sitting low in the mix among buzzsaw guitars and relatively unpolished drums. It can take a bit of getting used to for sure, but the raw sound does suit the record well.

As promised however, death metal isn’t all DEATHRITE deliver on Delirium. Third track From The Edge To The Abyss provides the first of a couple of dark and unsettling interludes, with throbbing synths and whispered vocals setting a menacing tone for Someone To Bleed With which follows. This one’s the longest track on the record, and a strong contender for its overall highlight. There’s definitely a noise rock element to it, with wiry, angular guitar work providing an interesting addition to the band’s most abrasive tendencies. 

Ultimately though, it is hard to listen to Delirium without feeling like it’s a bit of a scattershot record. Vortex returns to a kind of blackened death ‘n’ roll sound, while Vicious Nights deals again in throbbing industrial menace. The execution is always solid, but by the time recent single Sepulchral Rapture arrives to round things out with a final blast of chaotic deathy violence, listeners may be left wanting for more of an overall sense of who DEATHRITE are and what it is they’re here for in 2022.

Admittedly, that’s probably quite nit-picky; Delirium is an EP after all, and there is a strong enough death ‘n’ roll core throughout much of this. To DEATHRITE‘s credit, they comfortably avoid sounding one-note, and prove relatively adept at all they set their minds to. A little more cohesion could go a long way, but there’s still a fair bit to like here. This EP doesn’t outstay its welcome, and should definitely raise hopes for whatever’s next from this ferocious and fever-driven five-piece.

Rating: 6/10

Delirium is set for release on April 9th via Into Endless Chaos Records.

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