Reviews
Putridity: Mental prolapse induces necrophilism
22/08/11 || The Duff
My first introduction with Putridity was with their latest 2011 release “Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria”, probably album of the year for me all things remaining the same until 2012. “Mental Prolapse Induces Necrophilism” is quite the different affair to its successor. For one the vocalist is not an uber-brutal guttural monster but rather a slightly more versatile vocalist with a slightly register (I think?) than Paolo, and then brie-vocals that thankfully are complementary to the absolutely ravaging music. “Mental Prolapse Induces Necrophilism” is a catchier style of BDM than the follow-up, not as unyieldingly extreme, the arrangements a lot easier to process; unfortunately there are no blistering 7-string ear-rapes seeing as the guitars here appear simply down-tuned. Track lengths are kept on the Disgorgian brief side, plus we have the regular slow-as-shit breakdowns and beacon-harmonics letting you know whereabouts in the song you are.
Some would say that Putridity play slam, but personally I’ve grown to abhor such a descriptor. If you play slow-paced breakdowns in the context of blistering death metal and make it flow within the track, then to me it isn’t to be assigned such an asinine, onomatopoeically derogatory tag; give me an outfit that plays a three note tremolo riff only to launch into the musical equivalent of ‘Jump Da Fuck Up!’, then by all means trash the shit out of it by labeling it the excessively saccharine, one-trick pony that it is. These aren’t of the Suffocation style breakdown caliber, but the musicianship is top-tier and not to be confused with a bland, predictable style of watered down metal.
The production isn’t nearly as enveloping, ominous or destructive as on “Degenerating Anthropophagical Euphoria”, but it isn’t the somewhat sickly, over-clinical variety of Deeds of Flesh either. We get a comfortable middle-ground of accentuated and dirty, but overall it’s quite the light, underwhelming affair. I have to give the band utmost kudos for the track names – with all the brutal death metal albums I’ve listened to, none surpass Cannibal Corpse, the masters of track naming no matter how banal or convoluted with intimidating syllables – “Abortifacient Whore Lobotomizer” comes dangerously close to winning the gold, though. The samples drag too much for me, the intro unnecessary and “Pursue the Suicidal Breed” extended to close to eight minutes in length which is simply ludicrous when the track technically ends around the 3:30 mark.
Putridity are definitely one of those rare brutal death metal gems; part of me is wondering whether my affection for such a style is augmented by a non-too-hospitable production, because I’ve found that those that utilise a dry, clinical production like Deeds of Flesh fail to hold my interest long because it sounds so lifeless and consequently dime-a-dozen, but to be fair this band also knows how to appeal to the tech death dynamics nerd in me. Not as recommended as their more over-the-top, more original 2011 effort, but still a must-purchase for the casual and devoted BDM enthusiast alike.
- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Permeated Records
- Website: Putridity MySpace
- Band
- Davide Billia: drums
- Ciccio: vocals, guitars
- Alessandro: bass
- Tracklist
- 01. Intro
- 02. Abortifacient Whore Lobotomizer
- 03. Molesting Vomited Decapitation
- 04. Zombie Oral Sex
- 05. Concious in Rigor Mortis
- 06. Fermented Entrails
- 07. Necrophiliac Limitations
- 08. Convulsive Incestuous Devourment
- 09. Pursue the Suicidal Breed
