Review Summary: ‘Enduring The Massacre’ exists as a refreshing alternative to the tired deathcore formula that is so familiar in extreme metal today, ironically by returning to the old masters of the genre for guidance.
Looking at the British death metal scene today, I would argue there are a number of outfits to be excited about, with the impressive technical bluster of Trigger The Bloodshed and the groove laden stomp that makes Annotations Of An Autopsy just two examples of bands that are breathing fresh life into the genre (whether dyed in the wool death heads like it or not). Dyscarnate are another such band.
Listening to ’Enduring The Massacre’, it is immediately prevalent where the bands influences lie, as whether it’s the albums more frantic moments recalling the scathing assault of Origin or the pummelling grooves bringing to mind the ferocious bounce of Dying Fetus, the bands sound constantly hints towards a particularly American strain of death metal. Indeed, the vocal juxtaposition is a dominant signifier of this, as the prevailing guttural attack is reminiscent of Deicide’s Glen Benton, whilst the throwing in of some harsh shrieks into the mix then give the band a vicious Exhumed style delivery, especially in opening track ‘An Axe To Grind‘.
The instrumentation throughout is consistently stellar, and it is somewhat remarkable how the band have managed to generate such a massive sound with merely three members. What makes the musicianship so impressive and the song writing so enjoyable is the focus on exactly that; song writing. Whilst injecting more than enough complex guitar work and blisteringly technical percussion, Dyscarnate, like the formative American bands that inspired them, realize that more often than not less is more, and are not afraid to focus on some straightforward riff work that is allowed to hook the listener with its pleasing simplicity, rather than barraging them with a whirlwind of redundant intricacy. A good example of this is about three minutes into the discs title track, as the pace suddenly drops into an infectious passage of sludgy riffing.
‘Enduring The Massacre’ exists as a refreshing alternative to the tired deathcore formula that is so familiar in extreme metal today, ironically by returning to the old masters of the genre for guidance. Varying their sound with dynamics that do not immediately reach for the chugging, half time breakdown, Dyscarnate are a talented and exciting prospect for the future.
