These German’s perform Swedeath rather well, their last offering, their first official full length album ‘Beyond the Threshold of Death’ was rather special (released in 2008 but there was a major distribution re-release in 2010 with different artwork). With all bands there is a gamble; do you stick with what you know and do your best or do you change and progress? Rather than changing, you would know that if you heard their recent split release with Chapel of Disease (as the title track ‘Godconstruct’ was included there), Lifeless have progressed but this progression is in the tighter musical delivery, especially the rhythm sections…so no fear Lifeless have not gone uber technical styled death metal.
The acclaimed HM2 sound is dirty, crusty and filled with glorious levels of sustain. Brutal vocals just top off the complete package that I have to say is rather as enticing as some of this genres forefathers, if not better in some places. Even with the faster paced tracks like ‘Towards Damnation’, Lifeless are not going to do you any favours in the relaxation field of music, far from it, their energy and actual prowess that comes from this track in particular is second to none as I hinted earlier. In tune with fellow countrymen Revel in Flesh and the great Entombed, Lifeless stir your adrenaline during their delivery of their many furious riff monsters, whilst maintaining a melodic tone or edge to flavour your rotten pallet reminiscent of a gory corpse grinding maniac you may well become. Now that you are encapsulated, more horrifying musicianship comes to fore during ‘Blood for the Gods’ that in itself delivers razor sharp finger work underpinned by a true authentic anthem like dirge. If you cannot take it all at once then ‘Interludium Zeitenwende’ provides an acoustic instrumental escape, but it won’t last forever and you are ‘Seething with Rage’ once again in the company of rotten death metal with its unique gnarl and guile. Some of their peers go for utter speed to bring on the intensity, but Lifeless can turn the tap on and off at will. They sucker you into each and every track and maintain your interest without the needs for technicality.
Lifeless and ‘Godconstruct’ in particular is a massive leap forward in precision, a band clearly at ease with their songwriting and development. When groove, speed, precision and buzzsaw guitar tones are mixed, it is something of greatness, a real organic gem and ‘Godconstruct’ can quite easily be played alongside and referenced with some of those albums from the early 1990’s that are considered “classics”. ‘Godconstruct’ sends shivers down your spine, it ruins building foundations and destroys all who care to crank up its rotten presence and when presented with such striking artwork as this is in full colour, this oozes professionalism in all corners of the bands arsenal. This is an old school death metal album you have to hear.
(9/10 Paul Maddison)
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