Artist: Decapitated
Label: Earache Records
Release Date: 2/19/02
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Title: Nihility Artist: Decapitated Label: Earache Records Release Date: 2/19/02 |
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Abyss's Review:
So the teenagers from Poland return, and man, has puberty been good these guys. Winds of Creation, their debut, really turned some heads (mine included), by mixing technicality and brutality to an exquisite end. And even though this band was in no need of a gimmick, their feats became all the more impressive when we found out how young they were. Decapitated quickly found themselves on the playlists of every serious connoisseur of fine death.
"Decapitated quickly found themselves on the playlists of every serious connoisseur of fine death." But that was then, this is now. These guys are a lot older now (ten or eleven, I think), and they've got a lot to live up to. And their new album, Nihility, does just that. This album definitely certifies these guys in the upper echelon of the genre, even if it's a little less mind-blowing than the debut.
The newest effort by Decapitated is a brutal beast, make no mistake, but it does lack the over-the-top quality that really made their last album stand out. The thing I loved so much about the last record was that it came across as a technically proficient wall of sound that wound up being as intricate as a mosaic. This album is a little more obvious. Don't get me wrong, the songs are still great, as is the guitar work. And the rhythm section still shreds like no other, but it all seems to happen in a safer atmosphere. Where the first record seemed to be a fresh take on the genre, this album strikes me more as a trumped up Deicide with better chops.
"It does suffer slightly due to my pumped up expectations, which might not be fair, but that's life." Keep in mind, however, that I'm being pretty hard on this album just because I liked the last one so much. The bottom line is this is an excellent, excellent death platter that will get a great deal of spins on my CD player, and it definitely deserves a place in your collection. It does suffer slightly due to my pumped up expectations, which might not be fair, but that's life.
One word review: Awesome.
Death's Review:
If you like your death metal thrashy and chock full of riffs, you will love Nihility, the latest offering from Poland's Decapitated. Combining a raw, Eastern European death metal aggression with a technicality and intricacy reminiscent of late-1980's San Francisco thrash bands like Testament and Forbidden, and you've got the start of some serious, ass-kicking metal. Think Cannibal Corpse or Krisiun meets Forbidden meets a more modern, ever-so-slightly metalcore influence like Lamb of God, and you'll begin to understand the Decapitated sound.
The bright, expressive and surely excellent drumming is reminiscent of Lamb of God's Chris Adler, although perhaps not as busy and probably a small notch below, talent-wise. The drums are mixed in a very up front, in-your-face style not unlike heard on Krisiun's last album although surely not to the same degree. It definitely works well on Nihility. Still, Decapitated's charms are found primarily in the layered and intertwining guitars, which feature a knack for melody amongst the thrashy chaos, and definitely bring a certain catchiness to the proceedings that many of Decapitated's peers sorely lack.
"Decapitated's charms are found primarily in the layered and intertwining guitars."
In short, this is an excellent record, and there is a lot to love for metalheads coming at it from a variety of different angles. There are no clean vocals, and no elaborate instrumentation, just straight-forward, thrash-influenced death metal. Nothing wrong with that, right?
"There is a lot to love for metalheads coming at it from a variety of different angles."
Hel's Review:
The death metal prodigies have returned, a little older and (one would imagine), a little wiser. It comes as no big surprise that their new release is a more mature effort. Well, I suppose I can't speak for everyone, so let me rephrase that: it was no big surprise to me to find that their new release is a more mature effort.
Not only are the performances more developed (quite a feat already, considering their original impressive proficiency at an even more tender age), but the production on the record is lovely, and really brings those performances to the fore. I highly recommend listening to this album on headphones, for full appreciation.
"It comes as no big surprise that their new release is a more mature effort." Overall, the songwriting is more balanced, and again, I cannot stress enough how impressive the performances on this record are. The vocals are deeper and stronger, the drumming is more controlled-- you get the drift.
Nihility is clearly on par with the best death metal the 21st Century has offered us thus far. I sincerely hope these young men continue their meteoric rise to death metal greatness. I have seen the future of death metal and it is Decapitated.
"I have seen the future of death metal and it is Decapitated."
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