Death Metal blah blah blah, I love it blah blah, you all know the story by now! Drench me in putrid innards and destroy me with thunderous guttural vocals, is that too much to ask? Sometimes yes, a lot of bands out there nowadays, especially worship folk are pretty tiresome. Bands pop up to huge acclaim but really they lack any sort of pull, luckily you’ve got a Death Metal barrel scrapper like me to find the gold amongst the faeces. It’s not a pretty job, but someone has to do it.
Today we find a supreme nugget (of gold that is) in the Belgium newcomers Carnation. I say newcomers but they have actually been active for some seven years, having formed back in 2013. In 2018 they unleashed Chapel Of Abhorrence their debut full length, it gained them some traction and for good reason. Carnation are all about OSDM done right, pulling influence from the global pool and presenting something dusty and archaic, but fresh and invigorating. Much like uncovering a mummy’s tomb Carnation bring the old to a new audience. This time through their second record Where Death Lies, put out through Season Of Mist.
Kicking open the crypts comes the full Metal assault of Iron Discipline. Huge OSDM riffs and classic hook laden vocals make a bed of nigh on Swedish Death might, crushing hammer blows of purist fury. You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that the band have shot their bolt too early, this was my first thoughts too. However the creeping riffs of Sepulchre Of Alteration soon come crashing in, again those somewhat Swedeath melodies punch through. Soon enough we come to perhaps my favourite track, Spirit Excision. This is a real Death Metal banger chock full of traditional might and just enough melody to give us something to hang on to. I particularly like the vocals in this track, a good range of putrid tones.
Keeping things fresh and crossing the bridge of the album is Napalm Ascension a huge headbanging track that takes a slower but seemingly devastating pace. Giving us some utter filth and speed however is Malformed Regrowth. I really dig the sickening aggression that this song boasts. The riffs are standard and pretty simple but it’s none the less a huge hit. The album finally comes to a close in the epic, seven-minute In Chasms Abysmal, it’s a fitting end and not a touch out of place. I love the fact that there is no time wasted in this album, it’s Death Metal and that’s it, no frills or interludes, just total scum! The beauty of the climactic song too is that it isn’t an atypical seven minute job, by which I mean it isn’t Prog laden or anything of that nature it’s simply Carnation doing what they do, I appreciate that.
Sometimes it’s best to stick to what you know, and Where Death Lies proves that. Too many modern OSDM bands get lost in pleasuring themselves off of the legacies of those past. Every now and then though we are gifted someone different but with the old ideas in mind. Carnation are just that and this record really goes above and beyond to deliver some powerful Death Metal. Sure, there are a few less exciting tracks but they can be forgiven for the band are still in relative infancy. I shall be watching Carnation even closer from here on out.
(8/10 George Caley)
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