Extermination Dismemberment, the purveyors of all things slamming brutal death metal, return with their long-awaited sophomore album, “Dehumanization Protocol.” This offering promises a sonic assault that pits humanity against a rising tide of sentient machines in a brutal fight for survival. Let’s dissect this mechanical monstrosity track by track and see if “Dehumanization Protocol” delivers pure, unadulterated brutality or gets lost in its own technological ambitions.
Track-by-Track Slaughter Through a Technological Uprising:
- God Help Us (Intro): A haunting soundscape sets the stage. Distorted industrial samples and unsettling robotic groans create a sense of impending doom. This intro seamlessly bleeds into the title track.
- Dehumanization Protocol: The album explodes with a monstrous slam. Crushing riffs tuned to oblivion pummel the listener, while Vladislav Martirosov’s vocals devolve into inhuman growls. Interspersed throughout the sonic onslaught are samples of robotic pronouncements and screams, further emphasizing the thematic conflict. Hold on tight, this brutal ride is just beginning.
- Omnivore: This track throws in a touch of groove amidst the carnage. A mid-tempo stomp gives way to bursts of blast beats and technical guitar work. Martirosov’s guttural vocals layer on top, creating a suffocating atmosphere of violence. The lyrics delve deeper into the machine uprising, portraying them as relentless and all-consuming.
- Protonemesis: A return to pure slam here. This track is a masterclass in low-end brutality. Ear-splitting bass tones and impossibly slow breakdowns create a sense of crushing weight. The occasional guitar solo pierces through the sonic sludge, adding a touch of technicality to the proceedings. The lyrics remain cryptic but maintain a sense of desperate struggle against the mechanical menace.
- Humanity’s Last Grief (Interlude): A moment of melancholic respite emerges. Dissonant strings and mournful piano melodies paint a picture of a world on the brink of annihilation. This interlude serves as a bridge to the second half of the album.
- Forced Conversion: The brutality returns with renewed ferocity. This track is a relentless display of blast beats and technical drumming. Martirosov’s vocals take on a more deranged quality, perfectly capturing the desperation of a losing battle. The samples return, this time depicting the forced conversion of humans into cyborg slaves, adding a layer of dystopian horror to the music.
- Terror Domination: This track is a return to the album’s signature slam. Bone-crushing riffs and impossibly low gutturals dominate the soundscape. A mid-tempo breakdown features a pig squeal vocal technique, adding a touch of grotesquerie to the proceedings. The lyrics, if present, are seemingly lost in the sonic maelstrom.
- Synthetic Existence: The penultimate track throws in a curveball. A slow, atmospheric passage emerges. Distorted guitars create a chilling soundscape, while clean vocals (a first for the album) add a layer of unexpected beauty. The lyrics explore the potential consequences of a machine victory, painting a picture of a cold, sterile world devoid of humanity.
- Meatpuppet Parade: The album closes with a final, defiant roar. This track is a return to pure sonic brutality. Blast beats erupt, guitars churn with dissonance, and Martirosov unleashes his most inhuman vocals yet. The samples depict a nightmarish parade of human puppets, a chilling image of humanity’s subjugation. The song fades into oblivion, leaving the listener with a sense of dread and hopelessness.
Verdict: 4 out of 5
“Dehumanization Protocol” is a brutal and rewarding listen for fans of slam. Extermination Dismemberment delivers on their promise of sonic annihilation, crafting a relentless assault that perfectly captures the thematic conflict between man and machine. The songwriting is focused, with each track contributing to the overall narrative arc. The musicianship is top-notch, with Martirosov’s vocals and the band’s tight rhythm section laying the foundation for the sonic onslaught. The production is clear and powerful, allowing each instrument to shine through the sonic chaos.
A minor point to consider: Listeners who prefer a more traditional approach to death metal might find the album’s relentless focus on slam a bit one-dimensional. The reliance on samples and the occasional use of clean vocals might also alienate some purists.
However, for those seeking a pure and unadulterated dose of brutal death metal with a science fiction twist, “Dehumanization Protocol” delivers in spades
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