EP REVIEW: Heretical Uprising – Tribe Of Pazuzu

In 2019, we are knocking on 30 years since the inception of death metal as a sub-genre in heavy music. And the genre has evolved drastically over the decades, being taken in mesmerising new directions by legions of bands innovating the way raw, brutal music can sound. But, even 30+ years after the genre’s birth, there is still something very special about the rotten, filthy, old-school style of the genre. One of the newest bands to take up the old-school death metal mantle is TRIBE OF PAZUZU, with their debut EP Heretical Uprising.

A super-group of sorts, TRIBE OF PAZUZU‘s line-up boasts some prominent names in death metal. Leading the project is main song-writer, bassist and vocalist Nick Sagias, formerly of PESTILENCE and SOULSTORM, while ex-MACIFECATION man Randy Harris and John McEntee of INCANTATION and FUNERUS handle guitar duties and CRYPTOPSY/VLTIMAS blast merchant Flo Mounier takes his place behind the kit. With that much pedigree in the line-up, TRIBE OF PAZUZU promises something special. And Heretical Uprising does not disappoint.

The strongest tracks from Heretical Uprising come as bookends, with TRIBE OF PAZUZU opting to both start and end the EP with greatness. The title track kicks things off, diving straight into the brutality with a blackened, evil atmosphere and INCANTATION-esque leads from McEntee. Absolutely crushing in its delivery, Heretical Uprising bulldozes all in its path. A feature that carrier throughout the rest of the EP, Sagias‘s vocal performance is excellent, perfectly harnessing the filthy, old-school, glass-gurgling gutturals but also retaining a high level of clarity. Proliferation Of The Final Plague closes Heretical Uprising in majestic fashion, expertly dancing between high octane, eviscerating speed and more crushing, headbang-worthy sections. Although Divinity Destroyed, Indoctrinated Into Enslavement and Blind Disciples Of Poisonous Faiths all boast incredible strength in the mid-section of the EP, with none of the tracks breaching the three-minute mark they are all over before the listener really gets a chance to get stuck in. A bit of expansion on the excellent groundwork laid here would certainly go a long way.

The only real drawback to Heretical Uprising is there simply isn’t enough of it. TRIBE OF PAZUZU blast through the EP at such a pace that it’s over before you get a chance to really sink your teeth into what’s on offer. The mid-section of the EP sees the tracks disappear all too quickly, leaving a very real hunger for more. However, though Heretical Uprising is a touch on the short side, the quality is incredibly high, and promises that a full album from TRIBE OF PAZUZU will dominate the attention of the death metal scene, when it comes.

Rating: 8/10

Heretical Uprising is due for release February 8th via self release. 

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