Album Review: Sentient Horror - In Service of the Dead
Reviewed by Sam Jones
There have been a plethora of bands arise over the last decade of time that garner attention upon releasing a new record, or at least should do and, one such band that applies is Sentient Horror who return with their fourth full length work. Formed in 2014 out of New Jersey, United States, they began originally under the name of Sentience where they released a Single and an EP, the band altered it to Sentient Horror by 2016, and within the same year unleashed their first full length record titled Ungodly Forms which became one of those up and coming records many YouTube channels would post proclaiming a future in extreme metal. Since then the band have continuously worked away with grit releasing EPs, Singles and, as they did in 2019, release a studio album titled Morbid Realms. Then they did the same again three years with 2022’s Rites Of Gore, now in late 2024 the band line up for their fourth album titled In Service Of The Dead. Ever since that first record, Sentient Horror have meticulously churned out one quality release after another despite not really breaking it big yet. I’d like to see these guys become a bigger name in death metal because they truly deserve it. Slated to release October 25th via Redefining Darkness Records this is the band’s latest effort to bring fans over to their cause and with new bassist TJ Coon getting his first album credit here, it’s curious to see what the band will do to mark this record against their previous output.
The band are firmly renowned in extreme metal for their unflinching adoration of all things old school death metal, and the their choice of guitar tone excellently complements this notion too. Rather than keep their sound stifled and constrained within a tight space, Sentient Horror instead opt for a more open-ended sound that is given the freedom to move and breathe and this is reflected in their guitar tone as well. It demonstrates that death metal need not always be the concrete dense force that many modern acts try and assert it objectively as, In Service Of The Dead features a guitar attack that allows the riff, and the output from the played note or chord, to dissipate not long following its strumming. This allows the weight of their attack to seemingly spread out across us rather than hone in on one specific place, and owing to the record’s production it gives the semblance that there’s a great deal of space the record is deliberately not using. It enables the album to feel far bigger, but since that additional size is left unfilled their soundscape doesn’t come across as crushing. It’s therefore a more alleviating, accessible record for extreme metal to boast of.
Maybe my memory is fuzzy but Sentient Horror’s vocals, across In Service Of The Dead, feel to be the most guttural and aggressive they have ever been throughout their full length work. For most of the deliveries on record, the delivery is this baritone but projecting force that manages to cut through all the instrumentation and find us on a wincing receiving end as words and minute syllables are thrown at us with great strength. Moreover it aids the vocals by not being the fastest tempo performance; there are numerous times across the record where the vocals pick up speed though this is predominantly during the band’s faster moments on the whole as the whole songwriting inclines with ferocity. It certainly feels as if the vocals are most comfortable at a median, steadier tempo as that definitely feels to be where their frontman has the greatest control over his vocal output. But then you have select times where the vocals emit a more piercing cry so the vocals can rise above their usual station but only when they would make the most noticeable impact. Should the vocals break out from the usual performance we’ve heard them perform, alternate or other styles of vocal techniques are few and far between in the effort to make them much more memorable. The band’s worship of old school sensibilities ensures they don’t stray far from what they believe their primary soundscape is.
Whilst it seems like the drums are doing exactly what you’d expect from the band, they surprised me with just how malleable and interchangeable they are within the confines of what the songwriting requires of them. Noted, the main aim of the drums is to be bring blast beats down on our skulls and simultaneously set the pace by which the rest of the band will follow, and that’s a mighty fast tempo too. It’s nice to hear that blast beats aren’t the sole objective of the drumming tracks and depending on what you’re listening to, the drums can be wildly different. If a solo or more methodical riff sequence is being played, you can rely on the drums to enact more conventional patterns or, if the riffs are playing a bridging sequence between two riff sections, the drums will take on a more technical performance themselves as strikes consume the rest of the kit with couplets and cymbals apiece. Opposed to the riffs, the drums are much more grounded and do not dissipate as much although what patterns they play are never for too long so to prevent audience’s interest waning.
Now upon their fourth full length album you have to recognise the unwavering commitment Sentient Horror have made towards death metal. When we consider this record effectively marks a decade of the band playing and releasing music together, we need to remember how little innovation the band have brought to their songwriting. Across multiple bands this would be seen as a sign of stagnation or a realisation the band in question don’t know where to take themselves next. But Sentient Horror appear unfazed by this looming question since the output of their material has only ever been exceedingly high quality. Given the old school vibe they’ve proudly embodied too Sentient Horror are rather content with their unchanging ways, and as you listen to them play, you too will know they’re not about to alter themselves in any way. Bands will always want to implement new ideas across their career, but if those ideas threaten to compromise the identity of who you are then is it worth implementing them? Sentient Horror have earned a reputation for staying the course and remaining true to the classic death metal sound and I’m frankly all here for it. At least, when you listen o these guys, you know what you’re going to get and likely have a blast in the process too.
In conclusion, In Service Of The Dead is the band’s fourth notch on quality death metal records. Whenever I think of competently written death metal that embodies the old guard faithfully whilst embracing modern production standards, and a band I’d love to see live, my mind eventually careens towards Sentient Horror. Though they utilise small doses of newer ideas across their records over time, the band have and continue to maintain their identity unapologetically. Whilst other acts are trying to throw a score of ideas and concepts your way with every release they do, Sentient Horror embody the good old caveman aesthetic of having a big stick and hitting us with it. In many ways we respect it because the band are true to what they know they love, and what they know works too. Furthermore, as this record showcases, you can’t go wrong with a classic death metal sound as you know this will always work at bringing in and engaging legions of fans new and old alike. I expected nothing less from Sentient Horror, writing and recording another album that surmises them through and through. There’s a reason the wheel hasn’t been unnecessarily perfected when we know it fulfils its purpose just fine; the same can be applied to Sentient Horror, and it’s working for them.
