Album Review: Deified - Anthrobscene
Reviewed by Neil Brannagan-Fuller
I was fortunate enough to catch Merseyside’s Deified at an all day festival in Bolton nearly a year ago, and was blown away with their on stage delivery and vocal range, so have been looking forward to this new eight track (six song) E.P. Anthrobscene is a heavy and punishing attack on your senses, Deified are clinically brutal in their delivery, heavier than most thrash but not fully death metal, as there’s a groove, rhythm, song structure and uniqueness that often gets lost as bands get more extreme.
The opening ‘Prelude’ really sets the scene, with its rhythmic drumming and digital synth sounds it feels like the introduction to a Terminator movie! The rest of the songs then spill out into your ears, each one dripping with atmosphere, and anger, that feels like someone is trying to shake some sense into you. Maybe shaking some sense into you is the idea, as the tracks are full of social political commentary and opinions, and a feeling of disdain towards what is going on in the world around us.
Despite the anger these songs are infectious, with a level of maturity and creativity that actually makes them entertaining, the use of the ‘Prelude’ and ‘Intermission’ would normally have me leaping for the skip button but within the story and framework of the EP they work really well.
The real songs display the bands range and talents off in the best light, ‘Dark Desires’ has a bludgeoning metal tempo and edgy vocals. ‘Broken Matrix’ is sheer bass driven brutality. ‘Enemies Within’ reinforces their powerful metal groove undertone and the spoken word lyrics add a certain accusatorial edge that has a real impact. ‘Apotheosis - Rebirth’ continues to express disappointment and spite towards the people ruining the world and ‘Blood Under the Bridge’ has a catchy almost infectious rhythm with an in your face constant beat, whilst ‘An Ode to Armageddon’ finishes the EP with the most progressive, atmosphere rich mainly instrumental overture.
This is the strongest release by Deified so far and is well worth your time if you enjoy extreme music that doesn’t fit into a box, that’s played with utmost skill and conviction then this is for you and it really has the potential to push the band onto the next level!
Deified release 'Anthrobscene' on May 29th.
ICYMI - The band where ship wrecked on DEVIL'S ISLAND earlier this week. Find out what happened here.
