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RELEASE DATE: 2003-06-17
LABEL: Metal Blade Records
TRACKLIST:
1. Unhallowed
2. Funeral Thirst
3. Elder Misanthropy
4. Contagion
5. When The Last Grave Has Emptied
6. Thy Horror Cosmic
7. The Blackest Incarnation
8. Hymn For The Wretched
9. Closed Casket Requiem
10. Apex
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Unhallowed
The Black Dahlia Murder
THE REVIEW:
There's nothing more 'metal' than a blast beat. Whether you're playing black, death, or grindcore, the blast beat is a metal band's roaring chainsaw. You don't need to tell this to The Black Dahlia Murder, who are no stranger to the mighty beat. This Detroit five-some have constructed a highly dynamic brand of blast beat fusion; guitar riffs run the full gamut of extreme metal, from black metal to Gothenburg melodic death to American death metal. Although Gothenburg fusion seems to be an emerging trend in underground metal scenes, bands that can establish identity amidst a barrage of riff-driven fusion are few and far between.
When I first came across The Black Dahlia Murder, I couldn't believe that I hadn't heard them earlier... and that they had only formed 2 years ago! This band was made for fans of Scandinavian death/black metal, Florida death metal, and any form of extreme metal nostalgia. Whether you like the black metal tinge of Dissection and Carcass, or the thrash/death fusion of The Crown and Carnal Forge, "Unhallowed" will leave you in awe. The universally compatible blast beat dominates the majority of the album's tracks, and the twin guitar attack fills the beat with a suprisingly large variety of riffs. The majority of John Kempainen and Brian Eschbach's guitar work exudes strong thrash and black metal melody - surprisingly clear melody for such fast riffing. Some songs, such as "When the Last Grave has Emptied," have a Dying Fetus sound to them, with schizophrenic fret climbs and low-end death metal riffing. No mistaking the American death metal influence here. It's also nice to hear a band have so much fun with guitar solos, even if there could be more of them.
The Black Dahlia Murder have a killer vocal department: black metal screeches and death metal growls. They've got the perfect vocal range for black and death metal fusion, especially when layered on Scandinavian black metal melody. The constant rotation of growls and screams keeps the vocal attack fresh, and is downright brutal when layered together. Great vocal production.
"Funeral Thirst" is an instant hit, driven by thick Swedish thrash melody in the vein of The Crown and Carcass. "Contagion" makes American death metal proud, with pounding double bass drum rhythms and commanding lead guitar melodies. The sludgy opening and bridge add an extra element of American-inspired fusion. "Closed Casket Requiem" draws inspiration from Kalmah's brand of high speed melodic black metal, with a song-defining guitar lead melody and impossibly fast tempos.
The Black Dahlia Murder is living proof that the roots of extreme metal are alive and well in the US. Whether you consider extreme to be black metal blasts or death metal growls, The Black Dahlia Murder have it and will pull it off. If you thought that what you heard out of Europe was exciting, just wait until you hear these home-grown prodigies. The Black Dahlia Murder are instant underground heroes, celebrating everything extreme metal has to offer... and goddamn, they're heavy.
POSTED BY: suddendeathsyndrome on 2006-02-17
RANK:
 
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