SEVERE TORTURE

First impressions of "Fall of the Despised" by The Netherlands' SEVERE TORTURE are that it is a more accomplished, varied, and more dynamic offering than previous releases. The distinctly American style of brutal death employed on past releases has always been welcome in my home. I just always found SEVERE TORTURE to be a slightly better than average death metal band that took its cues from SUFFOCATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE, and the slew of offshoots. Either "Fall of the Despised" shows the band stepping up the songwriting and developing more interesting arrangements, or I completely missed the boat in assessing the earlier material. Either way, the group's Earache debut is the definition of "solid" when it comes to this bludgeoning style of death metal. The album will never be mistaken as watershed release, but it is a fine representation of the genre nonetheless.

On the one hand there are no obvious standout tracks. One the other hand, the album works as a complete experience, each song enjoyable with not a torrid, riff-drenched second wasted. That textured SUFFOCATION riff work is omnipresent; big, meaty chunks and bloody shards are present at every treacherous turn. The songs also tend to be more memorable. It takes a little doing, as a term like "melody" is to be used lightly in this context, but songs like "Sawn Off" do sport small (meat) hooks and pay dividends with repeat visits. Fortunately, the lyrics are included, as Dennis Schreurs' vocals are mostly indecipherable. His changeups to a sickening, abrasive vocal (rather than a true growl) add to the increased level of dynamism, as heard on "Endless Strain of Cadavers", "Impulsive Mutilation", "Unconditional Annihilation" and several others. A pinch harmonic here, an effective tempo shift there, slight melodic touches, and wisely chosen guitar solos are but a few of the "little" things helping SEVERE TORTURE to separate itself from the pack, if only by a stride or two. Those qualities coupled with the manner in which drummer Seth van De Loo is able to bring out a staccato burst or a gripping roll exactly when it is needed are the qualities that make "Fall of the Despised" a commendable effort. It most definitely works for me.