For the first time in their career, Dying Fetus has managed to maintain the same line-up for two consecutive full-lengths. One would imagine that main-man, John Gallagher, must feel content that some stability has at last instilled itself within Dying Fetus’ ranks. For as much perseverance as he and his shifting line-ups displayed on 2003’s ‘Stop at Nothing’ and 2007’s ‘War of Attrition’, some important aspects were lacking in the overall scheme of things: on one hand, rumbling low-end; on the other, that vital urgency which thrust the band onto the death metal radar in the first place. Given the fact that neither of these two releases came close to equalling the band’s two defining albums (’98’s ‘Killing…’ and 2000’s ‘Destroy the Opposition’), 2009’s ‘Descend into Depravity’ kind of passed me by.
Listening to ‘Reign Supreme’ – even cursorily – it is clear that Dying Fetus has regained not just a line-up but also its core. Whether these same three guys pulled off the same feat on their last effort is something I will now have to investigate further. What I can say without hesitation about this album is that it sounds close to ‘Destroy the Opposition’, only more aggressive. ‘Invert the Idols’ immediately sets the tone with some of those bizarre, trademark sweeps which this band is renowned for, leading the way to a plethora of brutal riffs, varied drum patterns and dual vocals. As expected, the tempo alternates between slow, heavy passages (featuring some very tight double bass) and lightening quick ones – the key ingredients to any of this band’s releases. One of the foremost aspects to hit me about this record is the production, which is the best fit that I have heard with this band since 2000. Although the bass is somewhat clouded and the drum skins have a slight feel of rubber about their sound, the overall package works brilliantly. Dying Fetus’ enraged compositions (do indeed) subject you to a beating – with that characteristic guitar tone in perfect attendance, and drums so frantically precise that at times they’re reminiscent of a Mortician CD.
The songwriting, like the production is snappy, with the band shifting gears constantly. Even at their best, Dying Fetus has occasionally over-done the slowing down, ‘slam’ thing – an aspect which for me, has always rendered them a far less menacing and crushing prospect than, say, Suffocation.
Don’t get me wrong, it has its place, but too much detracts from the meat of what’s going on. On ‘Reign Supreme’, however, two factors seemingly combine to ensure that such instances do not descend into a dull morass: firstly, the production; secondly, the furious performance of the band members, which raises the intensity of everything. For each slow section and breakdown, there’s a consistent bunch of utterly merciless drumming and dynamic riffs waiting round the corner. Naturally this is what Dying Fetus has aimed to do on all its releases, but here, the punishment is particularly harsh as an undercurrent of caustic, sometimes spasmodic brutality runs throughout, which nothing can detract from, let alone impede. All attempts at analysis put to one side, Dying Fetus sounds genuinely angry. Each track speaks for itself in this respect as tidal wave after wave of guttural, head crushing technical death metal tears past.
As a taste of diversity – on top of the usual fretboard flourishes – we are also treated to a couple of tasteful leads in the final track, ‘The Blood of Power’, which adds further texture to the general grind. Ultimately, it seems as if Dying Fetus has been gifted with a new lease of life and renewed sense of purpose as a three-piece. The key word – in terms of line-up, approach and music – is: consistency. The nine tracks flow by without pause or unwanted digression. Here, Dying Fetus is equal parts focused and pissed off (especially if track titles such as ‘From Womb to Waste’ are anything to go by…) Personally, this album is second only to ‘Killing on Adrenaline’.
(8.5/10 Jamie Wilson)
Leave a Reply