DEHUMAN
Black Throne Of All Creation
(Kaotoxin Records)
44:07min
Five years after their 2007 demo, Belgium’s DEHUMAN released their debut album, and the applause is less than thunderous, but not totally silent either. That’s because this isn’t an extraordinary album, nothing to cause whiplash in your neck muscles or sold out tours. Nor is it terrible, nothing to cause retching and gnashing of teeth like the last MORBID ANGEL album. Instead DEHUMAN have crafted an acceptable Death Metal album; nothing more, nothing less. Influences from bands in the American northeast such as SUFFOCATION and CANNIBAL CORPSE (hey, they’re still from Buffalo, NY!). So, you should expect dexterous, technical riffing, which is certainly present on this album in songs like, ‘Monstrosity In The Hands Of God'. However, vocals provide an enormous contribution in helping this album achieve a darker feel. In this area you’d be hard pressed to find an American influence, for the style pioneered by singers such as Martin van Drunen (ASPHYX, HAIL OF BULLETS) reigns supreme. ‘Eyes Of A Thousand’, for instance, would sound like a HATE ETERNAL rehearsal track were it not for the vocals, which bring greater levels of darkness to the already brutal riffing. Several more of the same and the album draw to a close. I think there’s a lot to appreciate about this album. DEHUMAN have potential. Hopefully they’ll stick around to refine their talent and make a deadlier, meaner record in the future. As it is now, they’re on their way to making an impression, if perhaps a little stuck in the ordinary. www.myspace.com/dehuman, www.kaotoxin.com
Nat Shapiro
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