Severe Torture - Fall of the Despised

Song Review

01. Endless Strain of Cadavers - 4:05
Straight in, head on, full speed. First thing that caught me by surprise is the transparent and very clear production of this album. They didn't try to get the heaviest guitar sound ever or the most bombastic drum sound recorded in recent times, no the sound is just right. Everything can be heard and all the details are noticable, despite the fact that most of the time the songs are faster than a speeding bullet. Check out the Death-like riff, very nice.

02. Sawn Off - 4:14
No time to catch your breath... Song #2 kicks right in with another blast beat. Dennis' vocals sound dirty and sick. Just the way we like it. Most of these types of bands just blast their way through songs forgetting that diversity makes this sort of music entertaining, together with a fierce attitude. Half way through the riffing seems to go even faster, only to drop down a little again to make it all bearable and with mid-tempo verses (bass drums still going like mad), it all makes the faster parts hit harder.

03. Unconditional Annihilation - 3:36
Bass drums and a mid tempo beat and a squeeling guitar riff and this even might be "catchy". After 2 minutes all of a sudden the blat beat kicks in and we're off in another frenzy. Severe Torture manages to get you going into a state where it's hard to sit still, control your involentary headbang urges and your desperate need to thrash around in your room. Isn't that what this type of music is all about? Not many bands achieve it anymore these days.

04. Consuming the Dying - 4:27
Another killer track. Everything is bloody tight and crisp. It's really a pleasure to listen to this production in which everything is in balance but still scares the shit out of your neighbors. This song displays a diversity of tempos and the odd thrash metal riff. The new blood really pushed Severe Torture that extra mile, I think. 2 Guitar players also means guitar solos on this album. A nice and tasty one is played in this track. Not too long and very well thought of.

05. Impulsive Mutilation - 4:56
A dragging beat and pumping riff, supported by super fast bass drums. Dennis' vocals do remind me of Martin van Drunen (Pestilence / Asphyx / Bolt Thrower) every now and then. Dennis apparently knows to give the vocals some diversity as well, portraying a variety of throaty sounds. When thios song is almost over I realise that this might just be the only track without a blast beat on the album. Surprising. I didn't even really miss it.

06. Dead from the Waist Up - 3:30
The lack of a blast beat is made up in this track by starting off with one. Quite intense. Head on for 3 and a half minutes of mayhem. Strong riffing and catchy hooks. Who would have thought that that could be said about an extreme metal album like this?

07. Decree of Darkness - 3:46
Another assault to the ears. But for some reason this track pushes you just a little bit more. This must be a live favorite, starting the slam pit, thrashing limbs. An almost constant blast beat and enthralling riffing made me long a little for the old slamfest. Another solo passes by, adding just that little bit more like icing on the cake. Nice!

08. Enshrined in Madness - 5:20
A slow paced heavy riff starts off the longest track of the album. Not so much speed as heaviness is the main partical of Enshrined in Madness. Because Dennis' use of different voices on this track it almost sounds like several vocalists are grunting to this track  that's slightly referring to Morbid Angel. The bass drums speed up and after a bit the blast beat is added. It builds up, only to take step back for the guitar solo. This song is even more diverse than the song that went before it. All the different tempos come by.

09. End of Christ - 5:11
Another blast beat starter. The riff has a nice hook and sticks out. Distortion on the vocals every now and then. Yes, this is the shit. I like this track a lot. Brutal, but yet almost sterile. And the outstanding arrangements make this just that little bit different from the other extreme bands out there roaming the Netherlands. I don't even notice that this song is passed the 5 minute mark, which is an achievement for this type of music. After approx. 3 and a half minutes another huge riff is introduced. Damn, this makes a perfect ending. An enthralling off-beat riff that gives that closure feeling. Well fucking done, guys!!

10. Fall of the Despised - 1:14
An instrumental as title track and closing piece for the album. Just some hypnotising guitars without drums or anything else except a freight load of reverb. It leaves you in a state of exhaustion and disbelief. Is this the same band from a couple years back? Their debut on Earache is a definite success...


Technical Information

Total Playing Time: 40:24
Total Tracks: 10


Cover Artwork

Wow. Severe Torture grew quite a bit since their last studio effort. It was inevitable that it would be picked up by an internationally more important and bigger player like Earache. And well-deserved it is. This album does know how to compete with all the international releases that are put out on this world these days. The fine-tuning of their musical efforts really turned out well; the addition of tasty guitar solos and a broader look upon heavy music, adding thrash metal elements without betraying their extreme heritage, and the arrival of Marvin as an extra guitar player really pushed the band forward. The crisp and clean yet heavy production of the Excess Studio really finished this album off. The true heroes and kings of extreme metal from the Netherlands have risen to the occassion once more.

Music: 8.5
Sound: 9
Extra's: n/a
Total: 8.75