EP REVIEW: The Aggression Sessions – Fit For An Autopsy, Thy Art Is Murder & Malevolence

April 4, 2023 Graham Ray

In 2016, THY ART IS MURDER, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY and THE ACACIA STRAIN dropped a cheeky little EP called The Depression Sessions. Each band brought to the table one original track and one cover. Why? Well, why not?

Now in 2023, two of the bands are back for The Aggression Sessions, but this time around, the UK’s fastest-rising heavy band MALEVOLENCE have joined the fray in place of the STRAIN and have hit us with the most ridiculous and out-there choice for a cover song. Straight from the pop depths of 2004, ANASTACIA’s Left Outside Alone has been given the metal treatment and oh boy is it a treat indeed.

You can’t say anyone saw that coming. Thankfully, the lads did an incredible job of covering what no-one can dispute is a straight-up banger. Don’t let this overshadow their original track though. Waste Of Myself is another incredible addition to their already impressive catalogue. Using their hardcore sensibilities and groove metal elements, MALEVOLENCE have again shown they can proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the heavy hitters.

Speaking of heavy hitters, Hellions is FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY going back to their roots. It’s a showcase of brutality and opens the EP with an unrelenting force. The breakdown towards the track’s conclusion is destructive. Their cover of Under A Serpent Sun from AT THE GATES‘ seminal 1995 album Slaughter Of The Soul is immaculate but it hits with even more magnitude due to the sheer weight of the guitars.

THY ART IS MURDER are currently celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Hate and you can hear the influence from that album seeping through in their new track Until There Is No Longer. There’s a sinister groove that runs through it that will make sure they’ll have necks snapping during its live version. Elements of BEHEMOTH are heard within due to its almost blackened death feel. Hammer Smashed Face by CANNIBAL CORPSE is one of the most iconic tracks in metal and while THY ART have done it justice, it is lacking in that raw, unfiltered sound that the original had. We are reminded of just how heavy it is though due to the more modern production and lower tuning, and the ending is especially crushing.

Overall this is a great EP that shows off some brilliant original tracks and while two out of the three covers are solid, the other truly stands out. It’s a ballsy move by MALEVOLENCE that has paid off in the most spectacular and outlandish way.

Rating: 8/10