Review Summary: The old school template gets an unserious reset.
As far as the death metal genre is concerned, its old school revival doesn’t insinuate the smartest of musical ventures. I mean there’s no innovation to be found here and often the boundaries are far and away, never to be pushed or tested. That’s probably because we’re talking about the same genre that shelters contemporaries like Cannibal Corpse who are known for hits such as “I Cum Blood” and “Meat Hook Sodomy”. Deicide and their “*** Your God” or “Godkill”... and the how-the-***-do-we-pronounce Sanguisugabogg and “Dead as ***”. The list here probably
and does go on and on and on and on and…
Anyway… it doesn’t matter what sublet you enter this death metal ride; the experience is roughly the same in varying degrees. So, let’s continue reviving the genre’s old-school aesthetic, right? In Undeath’s case more is always
more and these champions of the old school death metal revival scene continue to impress by swinging the same old hammer into fresh new cadavers. “Dead From Beyond” sets the regular standard; a blistering exposé into not performing outside of Undeath’s means. That’s not to say that
More Insane’s opener runs under the mill, but both “Dead From Beyond”, the title track and “Brandish The Blade” are inoffensively
great. Undeath have released a record that is perhaps slightly
less insane; albeit more consistent than its label would suggest.
However, there is something to be said for a smattering of tracks here. Cuts like the shorter and abrasive “Disputatious Malignancy”, “Bounty Hunters” or “Wailing Cadavers” jaggedly swap grooves for neck-turning riffs that could even make their way onto a tech death record. Alexander Jones’ growls are absolutely on point throughout—malignant growls anchor every section. Jones’ vocals might seem commonplace within the genre, but there’s something to be said for a performance that doesn’t reach past its capabilities. Undeath’s attempts at shorter track times work very much in their favour. I’d rather a band smash what they can achieve than attempt to reach a lofty shelf and miss altogether. In this regard, Undeath are the former.
Maybe once upon a time this would’ve been lauded to a whole new level, but it could have also been criticised for its formulaic approach and tendency to get stuck on the same ol’ soundscapes.
More Insane is an album for the everyday death metal enthusiast looking to bring back some of the genre’s older nostalgia without having to play those albums again and again. Fairly,
More Insane is going to appeal to the audience that doesn’t take its death metal too seriously—and that’s completely fine. Rest assured though that as accomplished as Undeath are at churning out this dank, no-frills metal it’s unlikely to transcend itself. The schtick is wearing itself out bit by bit.
