The death metal act ‘Severe Torture’ hail from the Netherlands and formed back in 1997. They recorded their first demo in 1998, titled ‘Baptised in Virginal Liquid’ and sold 600 copies worldwide. After a couple of line-up changes (With original vocalist leaving to join Sinister) the band did a small 9 day tour in Europe with Damnation. Their first full length album was released in 2000 in Europe and through ‘Hammerhead America’ in 2001. They then promoted it with a European tour called ‘Masters of Murder’ with bands Macabre and Die Apokalptischen Reiter. In 2003 the line-up changed with an extra guitarist ‘Marvin Vreiste’ who played session guitar for German band Dew Scented. After 2 more albums and a three year gap, the band are back with their fifth full length album, ‘Slaughtered’.
Wasting no time with an intro, the first track ‘Grave Condition’ punches you in the face with some heavy and dirty guitar riffs and quite stunning drum rolls and evil growls! Heading toward the middle section, an almost 80s guitar solo pops up quite unexpectedly, but nevertheless it works…and is then followed by a slow and calming outro. Moving onto the third track, ‘Deride Jesus’ is practically made for some serious brutal mosh-pittage! Again, I like the guitars; it makes all the difference and sounds more original. Another track that stood out is title track ‘Slaughtered’. Its crazy, mixed up, dark melodies and furious drumming is a win. ‘Inferior Divinity’ is my favourite track off the album; the intro is immense and spooky, and the drumming pattern is superb! The ongoing riff throughout the track almost reminds me of something Akercocke would produce. ‘To Relieve The Mortal Flesh of Pain/Swallowing Decay’ is a stunning piece. The intro (To Relieve The Mortal Flesh of Pain) gives an almost demonic feeling, the slow drumming and melodic guitar work, almost in the style of an epic battle track, but then tricks you with a hefty slab of ‘in your face’ vocals with the tempo getting faster and more furious. The only thing I disliked about this last track was that it faded out rather than giving a grand exit.
This whole album is nothing short of amazing! It’s well put together, as a death metal album should be, and production work is superb. Definitely the best death metal album I have heard in quite a while. I would surely recommend it to any diehard DM fans, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we see these at the likes of Damnation/Deathfest/Infernal Damnation fest in the near future.
http://www.myspace.com/severetorture
