The Glorious Renascence
When I
found out that Desultory rose from the dead, I had a grave apprehension. On one
hand I was as happy as the day is long that the comeback of my best death metal
band became a fact, on the other hand I had some bad feelings the Swedes are
able to play death metal once again in their career, or, worse still, if they
wanted to follow “Swallow the Snake” ways…
I was waiting very patiently, thinking all the day about upcoming
release. The album and song titles, cover-art were known, however the music was
the only secret I wanted to discover immediately from the cd exclusively, not
from the internet sites. The main question was: did the Swedes reach their
mastership in creating such great death metal tunes like they used to do in the
past?
My first
feelings refer to the front-cover. I thought: yep man, first strong point for
the start, the old logo returned! With no shitty “parental advisory explicit
lyrics”! Also arrangement of nine songs returned, the first one “In a Cage” is
the longest track just like on the first album. Yes, these things came back,
but many have changed as well. Travis Smith is the man responsible for cover-art
and layout, but the one of the most important thing is the new studio: Necromorbus,
completely unknown for me, and Tore Stjerna as producer (plus mixing and
mastering). The second one is a permanent lack of Stefan Pöge. The guitarist who left the band after “Bitterness” times, the
musician who still exists in my mind as his play will never be forgotten. This
time Håkan keeps the lead guitar just like on the previous unfamous album, but
bass guitar is dominium of a new member Johan Bohlin. So… what can I say about the
music itself???
I had to
wait on proper moment to listen to this album, you know, after many, many years
(14!!!), I wanted to feel like a young metal banger. New album, new
expectations, new feelings, new hopes… And I have to admit that after first
tunes I knew one thing. JUST ONE THING. My Desultory was back! Tragic days of
“Swallow the Snake” are gone irrevocably, a new era of two old albums comes
into existence with this offering like a medicine for the cancer. The first
song called “In a Cage” confirms that all the tunes I can call death metal
exclusively, Swedish death metal, this characteristic sounding is everywhere,
maybe modified a bit. After almost six minutes I knew that everything was just
perfect. The production of “Counting Our Scars” is excellent, each element is audible
very good especially drums ravaging all the time! I am under the impression the
band is totally submerged in the depths of the underground, there is no
sterility (drums man, DRUMS!!!), or artificiality which flood metal releases
nowadays. I wrote earlier about lead guitar and I think Håkan performance is in the vein of the old days, of Stefan, which make me
really happy. The bass lines are very similar to “Swallow…”, of course it is
not a drawback. And the last element, yes, these murderous vocals performed by
Klas as always… Now he mixes both styles from the two first albums and the
ultimate result is just superb! Klas has an unbelievable and unique sounding
kind of growl.
As
mentioned above “In a Cage” is a perfect opening track for the album which is the
longest one and my first favourite song on this album. The characteristic
melody on the beginning turns into death metal hurricane with flesh ripping
Klas vo-kills. The melody which is the basis in chorus is some kind of
development of the beginning, but I can assure once again: the old times return
with these tunes definitely. Solo lead by Håkan is the next
evidence, as the spirit of Pöge lives here. I wrote about the glorious
past, but one thing is unquestionable: the musical progress which is
perceptible. There is no stagnation in composing and performing, the band
really breathes freely seeming to be a killing war machine with unmerciful
cannons. The last part of the previous sentence refers to the impressive Thomas
drums. This man is a real killer behind his kit! “In a Cage” is closed by the
next beautiful Håkan solo full of sadness and
nostalgia. The second song is the title track and it is slower a bit (but with
some blasts). But here Desultory tries to complicate the musical structures,
melodic lines are similar to the predecessor with short guitar lead. But the
best is present on the end – totally crushing ending with merciless Thomas
blasts and Klas screaming “…scars, scars…”. The third piece of metal called
“Ready to Bleed” is again more complicated (can I use the term: tech-death???),
these twisted rhythms appear after proper riffs, even with blasting and slowing
down. When my cells are bleeding, the next song starts to grind my body with
outstanding melodies and fast tempo, how can you do this, men? After almost
five minutes we reach “The Moment Is Gone”, probably the best on the album with
fine opening sounds and mid-tempo. But the chorus is incredible (how many times
I will write such words?). This song also has some rhythm changes about 2:40
and totally amazing guitar lead in old style. This song reminds me “A Closing
Eye” from “Bitterness” because of melody and structure of the chorus. Everything
is extended by some ominous sounds (outro?) which turns unexpectedly into
“Uneven Numbers”. It is like a step on antitank mine. This killer is composed
by Thomas himself and it is the fastest song on the album. With Thomas as
commander, aggression and fury dominate through this track destroying all in
sight. The second song by Thomas “Leeching Life” is slower but more complex and
multiple, about 1:30 a great guitar motive approaches with calm guitar lead in
further part of the song. Both these metal attacks are divided by “Dead Ends”
by Johan, the bass guitarist. And what can I say about it? This is the weakest
element of puzzle, but do not get me wrong, it is not a shitty stuff, nu-metal
or something like this. This is only a good song with very average riffs (I
write about masterly level of Desultory), I even think this kind of guitar
riffs doesn’t fit to this band. Fortunately I can find here very interesting
melodic tunes… The last song “A Crippling Heritage” is a perfect track on the
end. Fury, idea, passion, death metal. The essence of Desultory style. Finis
coronat opus.
The music
is one thing, but the lyrics are also important in the case of Desultory. And the
text content doesn’t surprise me, the Swedes do not discover a new land here.
They penetrate the dark paths of human mind and behavior, full of solitude,
unreasonable hopes, utter despair, bitterness and lack of better tomorrow. Very
interesting front cover fits perfectly to the lyrics.
It is
always very hard to write about favourite and most important albums or bands
without becoming trivial and banal. Two first albums “Into Eternity” and
“Bitterness” have a special place in my life, being not only part of metal
world, so you can understand my opinions about “Swallow the Snake”. There is an
unwritten law that the third album is a kind of test, determinant for the band.
Desultory has failed this effort and broke up with moniker of “Desultory” for
many years (then the band turned into Zebulon, the style was continuation of “Swallow
the Snake”). After first attentive listening I knew they were back, that the
masters returned in glory with absolutely great death metal album. The album I
have no fear to put beside two mentioned classic masterpieces. They proved that
Daniel Ekeroth (the author of “Swedish Death Metal” book) had no right writing
such words about the band. They returned because they had something to do on
metal scene. They returned because there are many death metal maniacs (like me
of course!) waiting for more excellent music. They returned because they know
how to create riffs and remarkable melody with a balance of great technique,
passion, intensity and spirit of true death metal. Here I can repeat the words I wrote about the
band in “Bitterness” review: “nothing is changed today, nothing will change in
future”, it refers to the all things I mentioned just above. After these words
and feelings I have to admit I was meditating about overall mark very
persistently. My opinion is almost perfect. One point less is for “Dead Ends”,
see my explanation just above. And I hope I will not wait for the fifth
Desultory release next 15 years, it must be much sooner definitely. Well, to
sum all things up: I’m proud I death metal maniac, I’m proud to be a worshiper
of Desultory during all these years…
And now I’m
pushing the button play again… to be in a cage of Desultory world one more
time!
99/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on March, 2011, now modified a bit)
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