ENGULFED and BURIAL INVOCATION were the only Turkish bands that I have heard so far. Shame on me, because it is not until now that I realize the quality of the Metal scene in Turkey. And INHUMAN DEPRAVITY is one such band that definitely has all the chops to stand out. Now let’s address the obvious: Lucy Ferra is one of the most vicious and savage female vocalists I’ve heard in maybe 20 years. Her performance in this album is remarkable, featuring lots of attitude and a no nonsense approach to each song. But it would be of no use if it were not for the amazing music by her bandmates. Now this is INHUMAN DEPRAVITY’s sophomore release and first with Lucy on vocals. I felt compelled to check their first one and their style has changed a bit. I think their first album had some hints of Black Metal, whereas “The Experimendead” is a full on take on classic Death Metal. And a severely tight one I may say. It instantly reminded me of the early albums of two Dutch bands, SINISTER and ALTAR. Now, INHUMAN DEPRAVITY are no copycats, so no worries. The comparison is based on the dense and crushing production with lots of technical riffing and multiple theme variations. These songs check every box for an intense Death Metal album: slow murky parts, high speed technical rhythms, ferocious double kick patterns and blast beats a plenty. All done with the right attitude. Murat’s riffing is amazingly sharp, combining palm muted, dissonant and crazy tremolo parts. I also like how bassist Ertu comes in and out of the picture as needed. He plays a really important role providing not only the melodic support for Murat’s guitar but also the solid backbone for the drums. In this department, Eren’s drumwork is super tight and varied, constantly shifting tempos and adding subtle changes to keep things even more interesting. I mean, these 3 guys have a deep knowledge of their instruments and it shows. And then there’s Lucy’s vocals that easily become the icing on the cake, so to speak (and if you like what you hear check out “…From The Depths” from their countrymates ABOLISH as well – Frank). “The Experimendead” is massive. Like really really massive. But it is far from being overproduced or too plastic sounding like too many modern albums out there. The wall of distortion created by the guitar goes along the mid-focused bass guitar, which creates equilibrium within the string section. I liked how the natural sound of the snare, the toms and the cymbals merge with the (I guess triggered) kick drums. The vocals are colossal and right in your face without overpowering the music. Mix-wise, every element fits its place and is well-balanced. I guess my only complaint is the usual one for an old fart like me: I do feel the mastering takes away a little from the dynamics. But we are in the year 2023, so it is understandable that many mastering engineers are used to pushing that volume pretty high. Now, not only has this album made me turn my attention to the thriving Turkish scene, but also showed me how good these guys and gal are and how serious they take their craft. It may not be something completely new, but “The Experimendead” is a show stopper and an obligation for any self-proclaimed Death Metal fan. Do yourself a favor: get it now (and thank me later). Highlights: ‘Ex Nihilo Transition’ and ‘Beyond Rhythm Zero’. Simply great! Show the band some support at www.facebook.com/inhumandepravity and get their album from their label www.facebook.com/gruesomerecordspt