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Brutality: When the sky turns black

02/01/13 || Sokaris

Barely a year had passed since the release of Screams of anguish but Brutality was back with another ten tracks of torturous tunes. Guitarist Jay Fernandez parted with the band, freeing up a guitar slot for Bryan Hipp (who briefly played live for Acheron and Cradle of Filth) solidfying the lineup for Brutality opus number two. The modus operandi remained the same; creating punishing yet catchy death metal with occasional descents into darkness, a unique sense of melody and spastic shreds littered throughout the cascading compositions. The leads are just a little more tuneful this time around and the production a little fuller but for the most part this is mostly a refinement of the debut’s sound. Hell, even the surprisingly good clean guitar interludes make a return.

Essentially what we have is a “more” record. It’s become a cliche to promote a new album as “heavier, faster, darker, melodic-er” than the last but this sentiment actually applies to Brutality in this case. There are more vicious blasting sections but there are also deeper plunges into doom-laden despair. The guitar soloing is more developed and the melodic elements are incorporated more intricately into the songs but conversely there’s more churning darkness, which is complemented by chaotic riff changes and sinister atmosphere. Speaking of sinister atmosphere, the Deicide-on-downers (complete with creepy vocal effects) ending to the title track really needs to be heard. “Screams of anguish” opens with well.. just that. Also, their absolutely amazing cover of “Electric funeral” is a real treat, one of the only times I’ve been okay with a cover song appearing in the middle of a studio album.

My colleague Professor Smalley mentioned this track in his favorite covers on Ozzy-era Black Sabbath top 10 but ultimately decided Pantera did the song justice. He’s wrong. Sexy but still wrong.

The band really sound like confident death metal veterans, hardened by their developing demo years and likely upping their game to keep up with the local competition. They may not have attained death metal legend but it wasn’t because their songs weren’t up to snuff, that much is for sure. “Race defeats” features a devilishly catchy tremolo riff that alternates with an almost jazzy tech section, combining into a frantic passagemost death metal younguns wouldn’t have the brains or balls to come up with.

Scott Reigel’s voice is even more powerful and disgusting this time around. Though there’s not a lot of range, there’s a ton of charisma. Maybe a couple high shrieks to punctuate things (a la Corpsegrinder) would add a nice touch but nothing’s really missing as is. Despite everything sounding bigger the bass is somehow more audible, banging around and adding some a particularly eerie touch in the slow section of “Artistic butchery.” I haven’t mentioned the drums yet but I didn’t save Jim Coker’s instrumental contributions for last for a lack of interesting ideas. The guy handles tempo changes, mid-riff blasts, intricate foot patterns and fill incorporation with unmatched dexterity, keeping the band Mormon-anus-tight and laying down the foundations for the sonic head-smashing you (hopefully) dropped your hard-earned cash on.

The Brutality is upped and the results are a meaner, uglier and better beast overall.

9,5

Information
Released: 1994
Label: Nuclear Blast
Website: www.brutalitytheband.com
Band
Scott Reigel: vocals
Don Gates: guitars
Bryan Hipp: guitars
Jeff Acres: bass, vocals
Jim Coker: drums

Tracklist
01. When the sky turns black
02. Race defects
03. Awakening
04. Electric funeral
05. Foul lair
06. Screams of anguish
07. Esoteric
08. Artistic butchery
09. Violent generation
10. Shrine of the master

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