Those of you into your slasher movies will probably know that this Italian band has taken their name from the film Deliria released in 1987, though in English it was called Stage Fright, as plenty of bands have done the same over the years, especially within the death metal genre. Surprisingly the band has been around since 2005 but has only released two full lengths prior to this third one.

I really like how this album starts, the penetrating opening riff to ‘The Glyph’ has an intro feel to it before the abrupt switch to a savaging riff that harks back to the early 90s, particularly within the Floridian death metal scene. It is immensely catchy etching into skull with ease as the deluge of riff changes showcases a band that balances technicality with unmitigated bludgeoning. I also like the gnarly artwork on the cover, the monotone styling gives the release a hideous front as ‘Irreligious Fallout’ follows the opener. Here the riffing fashions a thrash styling, super abrasive and corrosive the song unveils a very catchy stance again linked to high energy drum work and a clean cut production that I liked very much, without it becoming sterile in any way.

Faster, heavier and snapping at your heels is ‘Serpents In Your Churches’ which inundates the listener with copious tempo dynamics blended to the riff changes as more thrash rears up on ‘From Outer Spheres’ where the pace is reduced initially. The riff is utterly nasty, it carves into you with its higher toning before the predicted speed increase as noticeably the band steers clear of mauling you with constant blast beats, instead the band prefer to use an old school death metal approach as the lead work has tenets of the late Mr Schuldiner (Death).

‘Book Of Nihil’ begins superbly, like the opener it utilises a build-up styling that feeds into the songs thrashing menace as the vocals take on a beastly tone linked to the finale which has cracking riff change. Slightly creepier is ‘Republic Of The Obscene’, with its slower riff and pacing allowing the song to have a nightmarish vocal style and abrasive guitar sound that pierces the mix. In places ‘Putrid Monarch Crowned’ is chaotic, not messy I might add, but the way it is structured with a slightly longer duration so that the song evolves and switches with fluidity.

‘Scourges Of The Sybilline’ has some Testament like touches via its riffing and density but also speed that links in with the closer ‘Gazmasked Reaper’ which is insanely fast, but again not blasted as the screeching guitar work has the hallmarks of the 80s thrash scene. The song is incessantly quick, well controlled and harnesses the aggression superbly and leaves you in no doubt that Delyria have released an excellent third album.

(8.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/delyriametal

https://greatdanerecords.bandcamp.com/album/iii-oracles-and-tentacles