Review: Deathbringer – IT

Style: Death metal, Prog metal, Industrial (Harsh vocals)
Recommended for fans of: Decrepit Birth, Death, Gojira
Review by: Cooper
Country: Belarus
Release date: 15 July, 2022

Like most pieces of art in any medium, albums are often inextricably tied to the moments in time in which they were created. Especially in a genre like metal with its infinitely expanding fractal of sub-genres, certain songwriting and production trends tend to come and go like clockwork. Whether that be thanks to keystone releases that redefine genre conventions or thanks to evolving technology that opens the door to once unheard of production techniques, once one is versed in the nuances of metal over the decades, dating an album without ever once looking at the release date becomes a simple endeavor. As someone who listens to a lot of music, particularly death metal, I am astutely aware of this fact. I generally know the vibe – if not the exact style of riff or change up – that’s coming next; meaning, it takes an album truly off the wall to pique my interest. I am pleased to say that Deathbringer’s sophomore release IT is one such album.

Before this release, I had never heard of Deathbringer, and who could really blame me? Their debut album Homo Divisus, released in 2007, was at best a shameless, albeit well done, clone of Death‘s seminal LP The Sound of Perseverance. Following the release of Homo Divisus was fourteen years of radio silence, ending in 2021 with the release of “Per Aspera,” the first single from what would come to be IT. Oftentimes, bands are unable to ever return from such long hiatuses, but I believe that the extra time Deathbringer spent developing their sophomore release was well worth it. While their debut was squarely locked into a certain era thanks to its constant allusion to specific musical moments of the past, IT incorporates sounds across the entire spectrum of metal’s past and present. The distinction is minor but the effects are tenfold, giving IT a timeless sound that stands out from the majority of current releases.

IT is industrial infused, progressive death metal. Songs like “Per Aspera” and “Pitfall (When It Begins)” both exemplify this sound well but IT has much more to offer. Many moments induce a sense of claustrophobia thanks to the use of Warforged-like dissonance. Several songs feature groove-laden riffs that must surely be Gojira-inspired. And tracks like “Nihil Messiah” even edge on Meshuggah-esque djent. It’s a mixed bag for sure, but Deathbringer has a few tricks up their sleeve to unify the album under a single banner. First off, IT is a concept album. Instead of a linear story though, the album recounts various “snapshots” of a singular moment. To quote the album’s Bandcamp description, “The album focuses on the moment in time when our Universe is being devoured by IT. Each song describes this moment from the point of view of completely different characters.” I don’t want to give away much more, but I do recommend reading the lyrics while listening. 

IT also employs ample ambience as another unifying element. Of the fifteen tracks on the album, seven are ambient, each titled a different Greek letter. These tracks often flow directly into and out of the surrounding non-ambient tracks, and each offers a unique, luscious soundscape with tones ranging from dreamy hip-hop to genuine audio horror. Individually, these tracks work very well to set the tone for the songs that follow, but when considering the album as a whole they negatively impact the flow. For instance, of the final four tracks on the album, three are ambient. When the album should be working to deliver its glorious final impressions, it is instead developing soundscapes that fail to deliver a satisfying conclusion. Unfortunately, my issue with the album’s finale is not my only complaint. For instance, a few riffs on the album sound much too similar to each other, like the gallop style verse riffs on “Inevitability (Its Whip)” and “Impartial Beholder,” and this problem is only exacerbated by the song’s back to back placement. Additionally, an effect is placed on the vocals for the majority of the album that I do not particularly enjoy. It’s subtle, but it sounds as though the vocals are being recorded from a guitar amp. This effect can be cool if used sparingly but I feel it becomes overbearing when used to this extent. Alas, these are but minor complaints when compared to what Deathbringer did well on IT.

Ultimately, if you are feeling worn out from the stream of bands all riding the cutting edge of death metal, IT may be for you. Here’s to hoping that Deathbringer’s next album doesn’t take fifteen years to release.

Recommended tracks: Per Aspera, Pitfall (When It Begins), Nihil Messiah
You may also like: Disloyal, Incarnator, Funeral Speech
Final verdict: 7.5/10

Related links: Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Metal-Archives page

Label: Unique Leader Records – Bandcamp | Website | Facebook

Deathbringer is:
– Alexander Goron (bass)
– Krzysztof Bendarowicz (drums)
– Mario “Gone-Tech” Gontaro Bazalar (vocals)
– Artem Serdyuk (guitars)