Ah, the sweet savage sound of planet crushing death metal courtesy of Germany’s New World Depression whose sixth full length comes hurtling from your speakers like an atomic bomb dropped from up on high. I really liked this bands last album, ‘Descent’ and indeed backtracked through their back catalogue to check their other deathly gems as clearly the band has evolved from the death ‘n’ roll strains to the more old school guttural charms we currently have.
Quite how this band has not made it onto a more global platform is puzzling considering the abilities and devastating music they construct and whilst having the German’s as a best little secret of my own, to some extent, they absolutely deserve more recognition as their releases are as good, and more often than not better, than the regulars or predominant forces we hear on the death metal circuit. The band gets things right in virtually every aspect you care to name, the cover art typifies the gnarly attitude, the playing ability ensures a smooth annihilation, the song writing is cohesive and the production they have is battering from start to finish.
My previous review of the bands last album harked about the inherent groove this band always has and this effort is no different and as ‘Undying Strains’ bulldozes into life that sense of melody is intact as is the guttural vocal style which possesses a Van Drunen / Tardy hybridisation. Pledging allegiance to the flag of old school death metal ‘Brainless’ unveils a far more melodic riff before the song switches to some Bolt Thrower double bass that fans of the latter era of the UK deathsters will appreciate. However this album isn’t just about beating the shit out of you, though it definitely does that, it is about constructing songs with inherent power, intrinsic melody but most importantly memorability, as every tune here is different.
Those differences arrive via a multitude of touches, whether the outright opening speed that adorns ‘Guided By The Front’ or the Obituary infused title track. ‘Guided By The Front’ blasts in with murderous delight before switching out for a mid-paced demolition laced with guitar hooks as the title track contrasts by sending the tune into more melodic territory and one you can give those neck muscles some exercise to. I’d even say the band has some Jungle Rot vibes going through not just this tune but the album generally as I really liked ‘Deathmachine’ with its thrashier riff style and caustic approach before switching back to warmongering deathliness that sounds like a 1000 tanks rolling over you.
With an ominous aura ‘Forgotten Tombs’ begins with a doom-death like pacing, hideously dense and loaded with double kick the tune shifts its weight into a very tuneful riff and hook that I was humming for days. Returning to the bludgeoning mayhem, ‘Overdose’ is the shortest tune here and offers skull smashing thunderous drum work that is utterly destructive. Slowing down hugely is ‘Fools’ where the gnarly groove is ingrained to the pacing and riff before switching towards a more melodic death metal persona courtesy of the guitar work but also the excellent lead work that worms its way throughout the album.
Closing this monstrous album are ‘Skull Carver’ and ‘Thirst For Life’ where a short sample begins the former linking the track to a marching pacing that for some reason had me thinking about Amon Amarth plus the infectious hook it has midway through. The closer, ‘Thirst For Life’, continues the slower groove we heard earlier as the disembowelling vocals gut the listener alongside the doom-death pacing which stabs with remorseless intent. The lead break is fitting too, adding some dread to the song’s, and the album’s, finale ensuring that New World Depression have once again done an exceptional job.
Old school death metal fans should be checking this band out, their albums will have you salivating as there choking asphyxiating deathly horror awaits those bold enough to partake.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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