I’m a big Death Metal fan don’t get me wrong but in recent years I’ve begun to dwindle in interest. I don’t mean that to sound disheartening but I feel like more so than any other review I’ve done in recent times this one proved to me how I feel about the genre. I guess in some way you could call it burnout or clutching at the straws of my early music days and wanting to relive the experience of discovering the likes of Carcass, Autopsy and Cannibal Corpse. I’m never going to hate Death Metal but I’m certainly a lot harder to please nowadays.

Now the reason I think this review sums up my thoughts on the current scene so well is because of the personal weight I often dump upon our band for today Hyperdontia. Their 2018 record Nexus Of Teeth I hold in extremely high regard and often use as a reference point. This international OSDM collective are for sure at the top of their game and with such a powerful debut behind them the follow up is never going to be easy. Coming through Dark Descent Records Hideous Entity stands as the bands second full-length effort, but can it possibly live up to the hype left in the wake of Nexus?

Snakes Of Innards comes in with Doom laden true Death Metal riffs before plunging deep into a sludgy mess of OSDM ferocity, almost like a heavier, more modern and perhaps more technically accomplished Obituary. Certainly, the guitar solo is a joy, nothing overly complex but still sticking and something to keep things fresh. Trapped In The Void brings up the speed and keeps the pace moving. Now would probably be a good time to address some of the vocal sounds and guitar tones. The vocals are about as standard as one my expect from modern OSDM, guttural and brutal and basically ripping on Incantation (not that that is a bad thing). The guitars are similarly filled with worship, namely I would say of the Swedish or generally Scandinavian variety, don’t come here expecting anything too outside of the box, just appreciate it for what it is, solid Death Metal. To that end however I would say that a dull mist somewhat settles over me as Beast Within rears its head, maybe I’m on too much of a 70s Rock binge, or maybe it’s just a little tired I don’t know but honestly nothing on this record jumps out at me like Nexus did.

Again the second half rumbles through without incident, Grinding Teeth and Lacerated And Bursting are both enjoyable but passable Death Metal tracks. Had I heard this say three years ago I’d likely be stunned, but this kind of Death Metal has begun to wear thin on me now and if I’m being totally honest I’m bored of it. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I expected a lot more from this, and equally I should add that if this is your introduction to Hyperdontia and the whole new wave of OSDM then you surely won’t be disappointed. For me though, someone who hears this week in week out I’m just done in with this sound and whilst I hold Hyperdontia in high regard I think for me they’ve just run their course on here a little. This second half of the album is also pretty lacklustre perhaps with the exception of the closing Impervious Veil and the odd drip fed solo here and there.

So there we have it, proof that a sound can dwindle. As I write this it’s a new year, it’s been tough for me to get on with reviews as of late due to various life issues getting in the way and so maybe I’m unfairly grumpy, who knows. One thing is for sure though, I’m taking a new leaf this year in 2022, less fumbling and more direct reviewing stances. As such I can firmly say I didn’t really like Hideous Entity. Sure Hyperdontia have proven themselves a mainstay of modern OSDM and rightfully so, I still hold Nexus Of Teeth in high regard after all, and I will still use it as a benchmark for the genre. Hideous Entity however feels like it’s already been done, basically it needs more innovation.

(4/10 George Caley)

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https://hyperdontiaofficial.bandcamp.com/album/hideous-entity