Customer Reviews

Descend Into Depravity

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For the first couple of tracks, I was grinning from ear to ear: The tracks are seemingly modeled on that riff-based, pit-friendly death metal that got us all hooked over a decade ago. ...and I had to remind myself that they're back to a three-piece, despite that "wall of sound" vibe that they've always delivered. As the album goes on, the more recent complexity gradually builds, until the final masterpiece -- a killing blow, indeed -- is delivered. My recent worries that they might get "stuck in a rut" with this album have been soundly squashed.

More time will tell, but this just might be their master work... a summation of all the sounds, riffs, and styles that came before.

Old Dying Fetus fans: BUY THIS.
Prospective DF fans: BUY THIS.
Just need something to blow off steam? BUY THIS.

This is in my opinion the best Dying Fetus record to date. If you are a Dying Fetus fan this is a must you will not regret it. It is brutal, catchy and simply gut wrenching. I have not stopped listening to it since it was released.Some of the riffs and double bass in this album are so kick ass I have had extreme adrenaline rushes and have had to calm myself down.The best song on the album is Descend Into Depravity. This is a must have for any death metal head.

This album is just plain brutal. The whole thing screams technicality with the riffage and the gnar-kill drumming. Even the bassist sticks out as amazing where with a lot of death bands it gets lost in the mix. Must buy for metal heads!

Dying Fetus have created a fantastic new and brutal cd. This new affair is more streamlined with songs only from 3-4 min, except for the title track which is 5min. It's all about quality and not quantity. I am fine with short songs that are killer and that is what DF has done. I like this better than the last few releases, probably because it's more straightforward brutality. John does the majority of the singing on this, this time around, and his low ends sounds killer. The bassist Sean lends some vocals that are the higher pitched raspier vocals that have always been a part of DF. Guitarwork is amazing and technical. I noticed some parts that seemed a little like Origin-that were super fast drumming, faster than DF is known for. The breakdowns will pummel everyone, as usual, no one does it better than DF. They have even added a few 808 sonic boom bass parts that add to the brutality. Anyway this is more straightforward brutal in your face smash mouth death metal that is more similiar to their earlier works. One of this yr's best!!!

This is another terrific CD from Dying Fetus, who IMO made a near-perfect album several years ago with "War of Attrition," and they certainly had their work cut out for them if they wanted to top it. Did they? Not quite, but "Descend into Depravity" is nearly as good as its predecessor, and with repeated listenings may get there.

"Descend into Depravity" is definitely comparable to the previous CD, with several subtle differences, such as more variation in tempo within and between tracks, and less widdly-diddly guitar licks breaking up the sledgehammer riffs. The playing, of course, is top-notch as always, the vocals are brutal, and the production is clear, distinct, and pummeling (listen to - and feel - that kick drum!).

The only possible weak point: I've been listening to it nonstop since getting it from the label a week ago, and none of the songs have caught on with me yet, unlike "War of Attrition," most of the songs on which I found instantly memorable. But that is not necessarily a bad thing - sometimes the best albums are the ones that take a while to sink it. (Case in point: Cattle Decapitation's "The Harvest Floor," Emperor's "Prometheus," etc.)

Following the release of "Stop At Nothing" in 2003, famed death-grinders Dying Fetus went on an inexplicable (and fairly lengthy) hiatus before returning several years later. And even though it was good to have them back again, 2007's "War of Attrition" could not be said to be anything more than just decent. In fact, it ultimately registered as a fairly disappointing comeback album since it simply did not stack up against past classics like 2000's "Destroy the Opposition" or 2003's aforementioned "Stop At Nothing." Fortunately, not long thereafter, fans were well-rewarded for their patience not long thereafter because just two short years later, Dying Fetus blasted onto the scene yet again with an exceptional and much improved new effort by the name of "Descend Into Depravity."

Here, the band sure sticks with the same guns used throughout their whole career. For example, it is completely saturated with finger-ripping guitar work, breakneck blast beats, sludgy bass lines, politically-charged lyrics, and evil, low, deathly growls occasionally punctuated by upper-register vocals. But unlike "WoA," this record also finds DF also returning to the groove-oriented, Cryptopsy-inspired sound that defined their earlier material (which was very influential to the development of modern/latter-day death metal and grindcore). As a result, there are quite a few more memorable songs and much more remarkable parts to be found here. True, monotony does set in after a while. Plus, it would be a stretch to say anything from this Baltimore, Maryland-based quartet has never sounded completely original (which is partially due to the fact that it has been ripped-off so many times by younger bands). But, like always, there is more than enough of the good stuff here -- i.e. extremely technical and devastating brutality -- to compensate for shortcomings and satisfy just about anybody.

"Your Treachery Will Die With You" hits the ground running and with all funs blazing. This explosive set-opener is nothing but relentlessly pummeling, blast-beaten chaos. Its scorching, nimble-fingered riffing, and driving, grindcore blasts are topped off by vocals that alternate between and monstrous, Deicide-esque bellows and near pig-squeals. Next up is "Shepherd's Commandment," which keeps the gas pedal floored (although, come to think of it, so do the five other tracks that come after it). It launches into a blistering territory that evokes Nasum, Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer, early Fear Factory, Bolt Thrower, Rotten Sound, and Terrorizer. It also has some slow(er), chugging breakdowns, and a couple of good and propulsive drum fills/mini drum solos. "Hopeless Insurrection" begins with a cool shriek from co-frontman Sean Beasley, and then segues into some nice, melodic, Necrophagist-style guitar sweeps and a repetitive, droning main riff anchored by tons of more hyper-speed drumming. A small drum solo crops up at the end, too.

Newfound skinsman Trey Williams takes over the spotlight on "Conceived Into Enslavement." He opens the song by unleashing a flood of furious blast beats, but it doesn't stop there -- he is positively top-notch throughout. "Atrocious By Nature" is another breakneck speedster featuring more nonstop impeccable trapkit annihilation and heart-racing guitar leads. The title cut is an absolutely merciless ripper backed by thunderous rhythms and a blinding (yet oddly catchy) blitzkrieg of instruments, including a noteworthy bass solo section and great, Slayer-worthy thrash picking. Track seven, "At What Expense?" is not only the album's catchiest song, but it is also the album's epic. It is highlighted by a bass intro, a sludgy, grumbling bottom-end, and guitars/tempos that ramble between rip-roaring grindcore, headbangable grooves, chugging, fiery thrash, and booming power chords (a mid-tempo beginning is also included). Finally, "Ethos of Coercion" is a hooky, careening, jackhammer-fast set-closer that dips into Nile's bag, and could also very well be mistaken for a Cryptopsy cover.

Simply put, after a slight misstep, Dying Fetus are again firing on all cylinders, pushing the sonic envelope to the absolute max., and setting the bar high for much of the rest of the modern death metal/grindcore scene. Read my lips: They are definitely back -- and as strong as ever.

When I first heard dying fetus I thought they were a hardcore band trying to be a Death metal band. THe problem was I hate hardcore and love death metal and there are some catchy breakdown riffs that will mask the over all genius of the band. I Mean who has a lead singer who is a skin head?

However after listening to destroy the opposition over 30 times in my car CD player over and over I found solace in their camaraderie and not just hardcore it was something more. I seen them live a few time and bought a shirt and it was totally death style bleeding letters unreadable. Thats what I love about this album it is almost easy listening compared to bands like Origin or Krisiun who kill it with the Blast beats.

Dying fetus was recommended to me over and over and I couldn't get over their hardcore appeal especially the crowd they drew art shows. But just listening to Descend into depravity I realized the band was much more with their technical bludgeoning and ingenious style. what make a band unique for me is that I could be listening to my Ipod on shuffle and definitely know I was listening to dying fetus.

They will never again regain the catchy destroy the opposition style, but who wants duplicate albums. I thought War of attrition more grind core at first but give it a chance as well.

I bought Decend as the masterpiece that will be the Fetus legacy in the collection of albums and it sounded completely different than what I expected from Destroy. And I had to remember I am a metal fan , your favorite albums of all time will be the ones you hated( disliked at first) are now are your most cherished music. I can't speak for everyone about each sound and review the whole album, It is by far the best album by the ban yet which all the lineup changes I think they are dialed in to Descend.

If you are not sure get Destroy first and work your way up the albums as they get sicker and sicker until now I hold them in my death metal category on my Ipod today.

Totally brutal! Dying Fetus is back in rare form! How this band has stayed off the mainstream map, I have no clue! Instead of checking out bands like Suicide Silence, The Wretched, or Molotov Solution, pick up this album instead! You will be hooked!

I've really been a pretty big fan of Dying Fetus as of late. They are simply put one of the most interesting death metal bands that I've listened to, and also one of the most brutal I might also add. These guys have been a brutal and unstoppable force to be reckoned with in the underground death metal scene ever since they first emerged back in 1991 at the height of the death metal explosion. Their latest album 2009's "Descend into Depravity" is just absolutely brutal, crushing, and flawlessly fantastic to say the least, and it's also in my opinion the best album that Dying Fetus have put out thus far as well. This is only the second DF cd that I own thus far, and the other one being "Destroy the Opposition" which is an awesome album as well. "Descend into Depravity" is an all out back breaking, and adrenaline rushing assault of brutality with fast and crazy melee riffing, crazy, rapid, punishing drumwork, and brutal, bone crushing grooves and pummeling breakdowns, and the overall production is just amazing. John Gallagher's low end growls are killer as always, as he does the majority of the vocals on here. His guitarwork is just amazing and technical throughout here as well. Bassist Sean Beasly also provides some vocals on here that are the more higher pitched growling that has always been a part of Dying Fetus. His bass playing on here is just excellent especially on the opening track "Your Treachery Will Die With You" which features a really cool bass and guitar sweep duel standoff between himself and Gallagher around 1:39. Meanwhile, new drummer Trey Williams shows his skill behind the kit with crazy, super triggered, and super fast blast beats and slamming double bass pedal kicking throughout. He is just amazing on here period. There are only eight songs on this album, but each one here is a winner in my book including the opening track "Your Treachery Will Die With You" which I mentioned earlier, as well as the brutal and catchy follow up track "Shepherd's Commandment" which features some awesome sweep riffing around 1:30 that will have you humming happily. The title song is another favorite here that has an awesome intro part that will just pummel your senses relentlessly as well as more great brutal riffing and drumming throughout. Other favorites on here include "At What Expense?" (which features a killer guitar solo from Gallagher around 1:52), "Atrocious by Nature", and the wicked, pummeling closing cut "Ethos of Coercion" which features some sick double bass slamming and another sweet guitar solo near the end. This whole album all in all is a big swift punch in the face, and it's also a crystal clear sign that Dying Fetus are not calling it quits anytime soon. Highly recommended for any fan of Dying Fetus or death metal period.

Wish I would have discovered these guys sooner. I seen them live and they did not disappoint. This is death metal with hardcore influences that sound nothing like deathcore. The drumming is spectacular. I have never heard anthing this extreme that is also pretty catchy at the same time.