Going in for albums such as today’s record is always quite a funny experience. In part I’m holding on to the days of constantly discovering top tier Death Metal. On the other hand I’m just going in for blind Extreme Metal selection, sometimes it pays off but for the most part I’m just bitter and twisted and wish that everything sounded like Cannibal Corpse, Devourment or Autopsy. However since things have started opening up again my passion for music has shot through the roof once more and my grumpy thoughts are beginning to take a better turn, live music is good for the soul.
The record that we’re looking at today is an album put out through Great Dane Records who are a label I seem to have a mixed reaction to generally. This album caught my attention though and it is Unbounded by Italian newcomers Defechate. The band dropped their Overthrown In Oblivion EP back in 2020 and just a couple years later are ready with this their debut full length. As debuts go I once again have mixed feelings for them, some are the best thing ever, others I find to be fumbling experiments. So, am I setting myself up for failure with this review?
The opening of this album might fool you into thinking you’ve stepped into some sort of NWOBHM worship. That is promptly dashed as Hyperammonaemic takes its full Death Metal hold. Rampant and excellent sounding drums, simple but savage riffs and some truly striking vocals that are full of guttural anguish and rather akin to Lividity at points. The traits are similarly displayed in Naked Thoughts and Burning The Water. You could very easily dismiss this as Death Metal by numbers, or even a bit messy, however there is a certain grit that really pulls me in. I personally think it’s the early BDM influence that I hear bleed through at points. No need for groove or Slams this is just barbarity for the sake of it.
As the second half rolls in with Oxydized Man I’m consistently reminded of the exceptionally standard formation of Defechate’s music, it’s honestly no more impressive than a very average up and coming support act but for some reason I really do have a lot of time for it. I guess in part to amp up some sort of hype it is an excellent gateway into Death Metal and even perhaps BDM. I mean one of my favourite Brutal Death Metal albums is Incisions Of Perverse Debauchery by Pathology and you don’t get much more generic than that. Epicurean Herd does exude some top tier bass and overall a bit of a Tech edge however, in truth I think it’s safe to say that the band are playing with a lot of different styles and just having fun with it.
I guess that is what I love so much about Unbounded, it’s a Death Metal album full of drive and passion, it’s not so much about being the most extreme in any one direction it’s just hearty solid Death Metal that is well played. I won’t overtly sugar coat it, I’m very much aware that this isn’t breaking new ground, it’s not innovative, but it is eclectic. There are a wide range of Death Metal influences, sometimes a bit too many to keep up with, however none of them are pushed to the furthest reaches. At the end of the day I think the best (and probably lamest) way I can sum up this record up is that I just bloody like it.
(8/10 George Caley)
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