Album Review: Muertissima - Prophecy
Reviewed by Sam Jones
I always enjoy experiencing newer bands I’ve not encountered before and France’s Muertissima are the latest in that line. The Parisian band formed in 2017, aspiring to perform death metal in the vein of mythology and the human condition. Releasing their first Singles and full length album, Inquisition, in 2021 they got off to a roaring start but following a 2022 Split alongside Depraved, Massive Charge and more, Muertissima went radio silent. That was until recently when they announced their second album, and the impetus behind today’s article, Prophecy. But there have been changes: Simon Perrin now does vocals and guitar (having firmly performed bass duties), Nicki San Juan makes his first album credit with Muertissima on the drums as does François Delmont on the bass, the latter two having been taken on over the last two years. In many respect it’s worth looking on this record as a rebirth of the band or, should longtime fans be anticipating this upcoming release, to acknowledge some things may be a little different this time round. Slated for a February 13th release date and via Fetzner Death Records, it’s time to see what this shake up means for Muertissima and what it could spell for them moving forward.
Talk about a opening statement! The second this record begins Muertissima throw you into the deep end, seemingly dispelling potential qualms fans may have had regarding the shake up in the band’s chemistry. With pounding guitar tone and vocals baritone enough to disturb the resting dead, Muertissima introduce themselves to us with swinging haymakers and across the record that punching aesthetic never abates. Every instrumental and vocal element they possess feels trained to hone in on the audience thereby leaving no avenue for escape. As they play there feels be a dramatic lack of space between the band and yourself, so when their intensity climbs its conveyed with greater force and vitriol.
Speaking of vitriol, I adore the riffs on this album. The aforementioned punching vibe helps the guitar work come off the album cover and hit us squarely in the face; if a record could bounce and leap with excessive violence, Prophecy would be it. Just when you think the band are satisfied with the riffs on a track they throw another wave of altogether more insane playing: alternating hammer-ins, neck sweeps etc. There isn’t a moment where the band sit still and just let you be, it’s a constant assault that’ll leave you gasping for a reprieve that simply won’t follow. With that said, their riffs aren’t so pummelling that you can’t breathe; their songwriting takes on melodic sequences or these bridging sections joining the respective track’s furious moments. Yet even as the band may cool their onslaught, the respite is a feint, for they have every intention of completely laying waste to you.
Whilst their tempo isn’t always out for the kill, providing moments where their insanity calms a touch, the band’s speed rarely dips below breakneck. This speed isn’t exclusive to riffs alone for blast beats delivered possess energy exceeding the greatest lightning strikes and then there are the bass drums whose feet action is lunacy, amplified by the mix enabling us to hear and feel every single kick going into them. Listen intently to the vocals and you’ll struggle to mirror every syllable performed; the rate at which these vocals are thrown at us is extraordinary whether the delivery be growling or snarling. The dual vocal performance gives us room to breathe understanding we aren’t buried by the same vocal delivery, yet consistently invigorates the performance for we’ll never know what’s coming next.
A pensive track featuring a voiceover of David Attenborough’s wasn’t expected in the slightest. Through the inclusion of this track Prophecy goes from a quality death metal record to one that genuinely has something to say. Muertissima thereby join the ranks of Gojira and Cattle Decapitation in the respect that, they have something to say and it goes beyond merely shouting angry things at their audience. Following on from this, and should one revisit this record, we understand there is something more fervent and profound interlaced with Muertissima’a sound and that their fury embodies frustration over humankind’s inability to get its act together. Now, I believe the band didn’t want that to be some overarching theme to the record and honestly it isn’t, that angle isn’t pushed upon us, but one views the record in a new light, assuming a more substantial presence than a band simply wishing to demolish the senses.
In conclusion, Muertissima’a Prophecy has more going on beneath the surface than newcomers will immediately presume. What begins as an otherwise great work of death metal assumes a grandiose and more important stance as Muertissima encourage us to look at the world we live in and what could be done to improve and shape it for the future. I’m glad to say this angle isn’t shoved down our throats since their songwriting thoroughly allows us to enjoy their music without feeling like they’re trying to preach, but it’s in the back of our minds going forward. Moreover, Prophecy refuses to hold your hand at every turn they’re looking to destroy with riffs aplenty that jump off the record with ferocity unbridled. I think Muertissima are certainly a band I’ll keep an eye on; I’ll likely check out their first record, see what changed, what did not. But what they’ve done throughout Prophecy works well and, hopefully, a third record will only cement Muertissima’s ascent in extreme metal.
