Derkéta
In Death We Meet
2012 Self Released
The saying goes that the female is the deadlier of the species. That may well be true, but the music of Derkéta gives one the idea that all-female death metal bands could be the more brutal as well. But I really don't want this review to come across as some kind of "battle of the sexes," because in the end all that does is cheapen things. So first, some background and then we'll move on to the nuts and bolts ... or blood and guts as the case may be. For the most part, Pittsburgh's Derkéta has always been an all-female band. Guitarist/vocalist Sharon Bascovsky has been their main driving force for the past twenty-plus years, with drummer Terri Heggen (also of the legendary Mythic) being a semi-regular in the lineup. At the time of this recording, Derkéta consisted of Sharon, Terri, Mary Bielich (guitar, but perhaps best known for her basswork in Mythic and Penance), and Robin Mazen (bass, from Demonomacy). In my own not-so-humble opinion, I'd have to say this qualifies as a supergroup. Apparently, since this album was recorded, Terri has again departed, and has been replaced by one Mike Laughlin, who now holds the distinction of being one of the few male members in Derkéta's history. So there you go. For those unfamiliar with Derkéta's sound, they play a kind of doom/death, with most of the emphasis being on the doom side of things. I would not term them "funeral doom" though. They may play slow, but not that slow! Even so, the eight songs here -- and did I mention yet that they're all brand new, no old demo cuts! -- do give the listener that uncomfortable feeling of being buried alive. Or perhaps more accurately, you'll feel like you survived a cave-in, but come to the realization that there's no way out of your situation. Those hoping for speed and fancy fretwork would do well to look elsewhere, because it's not here. At best you'll get some mid-paced material, and that's just fine. This album is all about old school brutality and a never say die attitude. I hope this isn't the last we'll hear from Derkéta, and I also hope it won't be another decade before they return.
Morbus Chron
Sleepers in the Rift
2011 Pulverised Music
Although they're getting a lot of attention now, "Sleepers in the Rift" is probably the best album you didn't hear last year. Sweden's Morbus Chron are 100% old school death metal, but they don't play it completely straight like most other bands do. They definitely have their own vibe going on. The songs here are hardly "orthodox" or "traditional." If anything, I'd point to Afflicted's classic "Prodigal Sun" for a comparison, and the more I listen to this album, the more valid that comparison gets. Without a doubt, this is one of the more creative sounding new breed of death metal bands with their feet planted firmly in the old school. This is really what it's supposed to be about: taking your influences and using them to create something that hasn't been done or heard before. A lot of bands, even good ones, completely miss or flat out ignore this idea and are seemingly content to just be a knock-off of a band that has gone before. Not Morbus Chron. Already looking forward to hearing how they'll top this debut.
Zombie Inc.
A Dreadful Decease
2011 Massacre Records
Somehow, this flew under my radar last year. I'd like to think that I'm aware of all the old school death metal out there, especially when it's on a big label like Massacre, but the fact is that I'm not. It's OK though. I'm not the only one who missed this, and now in 2012 it's thankfully been unleashed stateside. Zombie Inc's lineup features members and former members of some fairly well-known bands. Most notably, Martin Schirenc (Don Cochino) of Pungent Stench fame. Musically, it's some old school death metal stuff with a lot of very wet sounding samples from various zombie movies. The instruments are all downtuned with that dirty kind of distortion we've all come to know and love. Every track is like a chainsaw cutting through bone. Not all of the tracks are lyrically from the panicking-out-of-their-mind human side either. Songs like "We Must Eat!" are definitely from the hungry undead point of view. Martin's vocals tend to be very understandable, and being able to hear just about every word makes "A Dreadful Decease" far more horrifying than almost all (and chances are that "almost" is just me being nice) of Cannibal Corpse's albums. I'm hoping they record a followup in the very near future. If I were to have a wishlist for their next one, it would be that they get both Killjoy and Kam Lee to do some guest or backing vocals, as both of them do horror themes better than practically anyone else.
