French death metallers Benighted have a considerable discography since the release of a self titled debut in 2000 and subsequent six further full lengths since then. Half way into the decade and the band has seen fit to release a live album recorded at the Sylak Open Air Festival in France more or less to commemorate the bands 15 year anniversary. Festivals are an ideal way of recording something live as you can almost guarantee a good turnout to watch your band even if some may not know who you are but have come to check you out. This live output is to be accompanied with a DVD of the show which hasn’t come with this advance audio copy of the gig which is a pity. Having seen the band support Morbid Angel in 2011 I can thoroughly say they were crushing, their brand of ultra fast brutal death metal is tempered only by the addition of some slamming sections that many modern death fans like these days, me included.
I admit not to be keen on live albums as they rarely convey the atmosphere of a proper show and even a DVD of a show often lacks that aura of specialness you can only capture and bottle at the here and now. However Benighted’s attempt at this live release is worthy as for me it listens like a best of for the band but via the live platform. Noticeably the transposition of the bands unbelievable hyper drumming has gone brilliantly as each snare and double kick feels like you are there when you crank it up. The audience are ravenous for the bands ferocious death metal which kicks off after audience noise with the intro piece, ‘XYZ’, to the last album ‘Carnivore Sublime’ followed by ‘Noise’ and noise is what you get as the guitar sound whilst a little too high on the treble to my liking is scalpel sharp as the drums utterly terrify the listener with their speed, vitriol and technicality. A personal favourite of mine has its title completed by the audience after Julien roars ‘Let The Blood Spill…’ to which the crowd spits back ‘…Between My Broken Teeth’ and the song detonates into life. The use of taped intros like their albums feature is not what I like to hear at live shows, preferring the momentum to be retained for utmost intensity but here they serve their purpose of giving the band a break and set the scene for each tune as the crowd can be heard shouting at the band, though my school learned French is not what it used to be. The locomotive assault continues to demolish more facial features with ‘Collapse’ from the ‘Identisick’ album. Blurring the lines of outright brutality with a clinical groove is not easy but the breaks in the songs that lead to a deluging double bass delivery helps that no end as the title track to the bands last album is unrelentingly meted out on the audience. Added to that the vocals are terrifying throughout making the announcements to the audience in normal tone seem so restrained as though Julien is let loose like rabid wolf on the crowd when the songs start.
‘Prey’ from ‘Asylum Cave’ is uncompromisingly savage, the fury and intensity are animalistic only diluted by the fret tapping lead work which works really well. Listening to this it is obvious that some editing has been done as occasionally the sound seems to jump when the next track is about start usually after some chat with the crowd which I think include thanks to various people. As the release hits its finale of tracks you detect a slight tempering of the viciousness as some tech and more ambitious songs are unleashed such as ‘Slaughter Suicide’ but in reality this live release is skin stripping barbarity in places but with a surgically pristine sound that captures the essence of the bands live show as I hope to view the DVD of this to see what the show was like visually. The price is reasonable for a CD/DVD having had a look at pre-order information and is worth adding to your collection if live releases are your thing.
(7.5/10 Martin Harris)
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