DROWNED IN BLOOD - Deathbringer (2012)

Conflagration and Death It Brings

The band’s name and the title say it all: death metal. This is my first meeting with this Mexican monster, but now I can speak courageously that I will remember it for long. And despite of “Deathbringer” doesn’t bring anything new in my metal world, for sure these tunes are worth the trouble. The base of their music is creativity of Brazilian death metal outfits, especially Krisiun (and “Conquerors of Armageddon” era) is the main influence. But for me personally the lack of originality isn’t obstacle during the listening because Drowned in Blood produces death metal in really good and devastating way. And this is the most important factor.

Production of the album sounds really solidly, maybe vocal lines should be louder a bit. George uses rather semi-growling, it is quite articulated and in my opinion he mixes two ways of singing: Peter from Vader and Alex from Krisiun. Fortunately it makes a final result really good. But the groundwork of this destructive force coming from the speakers is the work of unmerciful drums which can effectively press down the listener. The note “play fast or die” taken from the booklet is a kind determinant of the things to come. Mexicans bathe in really fast tempos, and when they slow down, it is the very short moment to strike again with crushing drum cannonade and guitar riffs. What is interesting, the whole album didn’t bore me, even I liked the way they put some short intros (from “Saw” movie) into the tracks, which take the music on another sick dimension. Good move! “Deathbringer” is maintained on rather equal level, there is no weak song, and especially opening song “Makers of Ravage” (what a proper title!) is a real show that is in this band. Each song has a guitar lead, yet some of them has quite memorable group of riffs (the opener, “Thirst for Vengeance”, “Through the Agony”). So thirty minutes passes by extremely fast, I wrote there is no filler… in the ‘proper’ songs. Namely “Deathbringer” is ended by a bonus instrumental track called “After Death” lasting three minutes and I do not know if it fits to the entirety. Maybe I cannot state that is a mistake here, but it seems to be unnecessary softening of the remainder. For sure it is quite sorrowful yet it gives a… hope? For what???

One thing is certain: Mexicans created bloody piece of death metal based on checked patterns. Even the music reminds some big metal names aforementioned above, I recommend this crew to every death metal head. “Deathbringer” has everything to conquer the senses: brutality, merciless blasts, expressive guitar riffs and optimal length. What else do I need? Just push the play button and with the first words coming from the opening intro sounds: “you can’t hide…” I drown into the territory of Deathbringer remembering that there is no escape… 

80/100

-Tlacaxipehualiztli

(previously written for Encyclopaedia Metallum, on February, 2013, now modified a bit)