The Necrophagistical Epitaph
2002 edition
of Fuck the Commerce festival was the first opportunity to see Necrophagist
crew on the stage. I only knew band’s name and few complimentary opinions
coming from around. But what about the show? Just good tech-death with “Crystal
Mountain” as a Death’s cover in the setlist. Then two years passed and I bought
their second attack called “Epitaph” released by Relapse Records. First contact
and I’ve been just blown off. Ha, and musically stabwounded. And if I got any
idea what Necrophagist was all about, “Epitaph” completely carried it into the
next absolutely better level. Frankly speaking, I didn’t expect such a sonic
madness.
Thirteen
years have passed since its premiere and the main question should be asked:
does “Epitaph” is still such enjoyable slab? Man, it really does! And it
definitely belongs to the top-league of technical death metal genre. But this
is different a bit as compared to the gory debut “Onset of Putrefaction”. The
leader, Muhammed Suiçmez has finally found three young talented musicians that were able to follow
his complex musical visions and the second album has been recorded by just a
band. With a perfect sound realization, the music itself became… more
accessible. It’s impossible to find here this pervasive putridity, gore-swamped
lyrics or even some grinding parts. No, it’s not the way “Epitaph” treads as it
astonishes me with… life and vivid uncontrollable streams of energy. This is a
real volcano of emotions with rampant lava burning everything on its tract. I
can do nothing but worship composing sense of Muhammed (only one closing track
is written with a help of Christian). And yes, technical virtuosity is present
everywhere, but I have no impression it has been served to be technical for the
sake of being technical. Indeed, the guitar tone in this recording form doesn’t
let “Epitaph” get the higher level of brutality, in turn, rather steady
monotonous deep growling balances it in a something way. The Necrophagist team
is an unity, no matter if the wall of sounds furiously strikes the silence, or
if I am delighted by musicians unimaginable skills.
And you
better believe me, because each single song is a confirmation of my words. And
maybe if “Ignominious & Pale” is the leader of the pack, no track or note is
a waste of time. The band perfectly doses the songs tempo and the whole final
effort erases such words like ‘boredom’ and ‘yawn’ from vocabulary. It’s worth
to pay attention and drown in completely broken parts in “Diminished to B” (it
seems it doesn’t want to take a run at all), or in queerish ending of “Only Ash
Remains” and more atmospheric side of two last killers. On one hand, the music
is to the bone, precise, elaborate and seemingly hard to understand, on the
other hand the whole musical performance gets my nervous system with ease not
only because it is catchy in a sick way which cannot be unnoticed. In a sonic
stormy sea of rhythmical surprises, musical fury and accuracy, “Epitaph” became
just a superb death metal album. And these eight songs are a real… epitaph for
the band. It is widely considered 2010 year as a last active period, seems that
third extremely long-awaited album won’t be another fascinating part of
Necrophagist discography. Or, maybe I am wrong? Muhammed, do you hear me?
98/100
-Tlacaxipehualiztli
(written in January, 2017)
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