An Autothrall Classic (the review is actually written by JD. Sorry JD). Originally published here.
Although little-known by the newer generations of metal fans, Finland's Demilich put out one album in their tragically short career: Nespithe. It is a wonderful, bizarre journey of (from what I can tell, at least) completely unique death metal. Highly technical and yet schizophrenic, dissonant riffs wind convoluted patterns around some fantastic work behind the drum kit.
Production wise it is not a crystal clear studio job most tech death is adorned in today, but a raw and dense production that fits the metaphysical horror theme perfectly. The guitars ooze darkness and cosmic tyranny, the mostly unintelligible throaty vocals sound like something heard at a twisted ritual of servants of the Great Old Ones. Although it's hard to believe, apparently no effects whatsoever were used to create them.
The sheer brilliance of Demilich shows through not only in the instrumentation but the album's concept. The lyrics are relatively simplistic but well done, each song an exploration of some twisted reality or unexplained cosmic mishap, with some gore sprinkled in here and there for good measure.
Also, as if I needed to even mention it, song titles like "The Planet That Once Used to Absorb Flesh in Order to Achieve Divinity and Immortality (Suffocated to the Flesh That It Desired...)" are fried fucking gold. I give it my highest recommendation, so check this album out if you haven't, and enjoy. If you have already, we should be friends. To be perfectly frank, I've never heard a tech death album this original or atmospheric. A must listen!
The version of Nespithe available on the Metalhit Bandcamp is a re-release which includes features four bonus tracks (the 1991 demo The Four Instructive Tales... of Decomposition).
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Although little-known by the newer generations of metal fans, Finland's Demilich put out one album in their tragically short career: Nespithe. It is a wonderful, bizarre journey of (from what I can tell, at least) completely unique death metal. Highly technical and yet schizophrenic, dissonant riffs wind convoluted patterns around some fantastic work behind the drum kit.
Production wise it is not a crystal clear studio job most tech death is adorned in today, but a raw and dense production that fits the metaphysical horror theme perfectly. The guitars ooze darkness and cosmic tyranny, the mostly unintelligible throaty vocals sound like something heard at a twisted ritual of servants of the Great Old Ones. Although it's hard to believe, apparently no effects whatsoever were used to create them.
The sheer brilliance of Demilich shows through not only in the instrumentation but the album's concept. The lyrics are relatively simplistic but well done, each song an exploration of some twisted reality or unexplained cosmic mishap, with some gore sprinkled in here and there for good measure.
Also, as if I needed to even mention it, song titles like "The Planet That Once Used to Absorb Flesh in Order to Achieve Divinity and Immortality (Suffocated to the Flesh That It Desired...)" are fried fucking gold. I give it my highest recommendation, so check this album out if you haven't, and enjoy. If you have already, we should be friends. To be perfectly frank, I've never heard a tech death album this original or atmospheric. A must listen!
[Go to the post to view the Bandcamp player]
The version of Nespithe available on the Metalhit Bandcamp is a re-release which includes features four bonus tracks (the 1991 demo The Four Instructive Tales... of Decomposition).