Artist: Insidious Disease
Title: Shadowcast
Type: Album
Label: Century Media Records

Somewhat of a “supergroup” or rather a collective of talented industry stalwarts, Insidious Disease features Shane Embury (as if you did not know who he is!), ex-Morgoth bruiser Marc Grewe on vocals having being formed in late 2004 by Silenoz (Dimmu Borgir), Jardar (Old Man’s Child) and finally Tony Laureano (Nile, Angelcorpse) on drums. Is this a pure expression of aggressive death metal – oh boy, you better believe it is. Whilst I had not expected such a brutal production (god knows why really!), no one can deny there is quality and heaviness, oh so heavy I kid you not. It is as if you are being repeatedly bashed over the head with a sledge hammer, whilst being kicked in the nuts, painful but true to the genre.

‘Nuclear Salvation’ has a classic death sound with a thunderous drum recording. Marc’s vocals are clear, precise and make for a top notch recording. ‘Conceived Through Hate’ has a cool opening riff, whilst not being technically blitzing like others tend to choose for their path (and are misguided sometimes), ID have the hallmark simplicity of genre defining classic, again, plenty of light and shade gives us near blast-beats and groovy death all rolled into one, with a somewhat melodic solo, but it all fits. Usually with a collective of talented musicians you get chaos, everyone wanting their piece of the action, ID have arrangements and songs in mind instead of egos. ‘Rituals of Bloodshed’ stands out for me as a favourite, simply because it is gritty and laden with punk attitude, a classic death sound produced with no compromise.

Thundering into life, Insidious Disease have talent and experience, ‘Shadowcast’ is hell unleashed, the fury, the aggression, the quality, this release has it all.

http://www.myspace.com/insidiousdisease
http://centurymedia.com/index.aspx