Dead and Dripping – Blackened Cerebral Rifts
Release Date: 11th August 2023
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Bandcamp
Genre: Brutal Death Metal, Technical Death Metal.
FFO: Wormed, Demilich, Defeated Sanity, Suffocation, Atheist, Cryptopsy.
Review By: Carlos Tirado
Dead and Dripping is a wild band that presents an intriguing musical project. After a few seconds in, it becomes evident that this endeavor might either be overly serious or completely indifferent to its own identity. The overall objective of the band remains somewhat unclear, adding to the chaotic nature of their music. Moreover, it doesn’t neatly fit into the traditional categories of cave-like Death metal (e.g., Tomb Mold, Blood, Incantation) or clean tech death (e.g., Obscura, Rivers of Nihil). Instead, they evoke a blend of Atheist, Wormed and old Cannibal Corpse in Blackened Cerebral Rift. However, does it work?
The album showcases impressive technical proficiency, with each instrument pushed to its limits. It’s remarkable to discover such brutality paired with intricate complexities, as these two elements usually don’t go hand in hand. However, at times, the complexity overwhelms the groove, and the album feels restless, except for the occasional moments of stillness in the outros.
The entire album’s sound pays homage to the 90s Death metal era, reminiscent of old Cryptopsy and Immolation. The drums provide a powerful, constant punch, while the guitars offer a crusty and raw tone (it’s gross, so you’ll probably love it). The thick and consistent bass also makes a prominent appearance, contributing to the album’s authentic feel, almost as if it were recorded in a cave where depravity prevails. Whether this quality is positive or negative depends on one’s personal Death metal politics, favoring either a raw and dirty sound or a cleaner production. It’s a polarizing discussion, but you don’t have to pick a side yet!
Despite its strengths, the album does have some issues. Most songs follow an extremely formulaic structure, similar to Hammer-Smashed Face, which can become tedious and makes it challenging to differentiate between tracks. We get a savage intro, a few crazy changes, and then a repetitive outro riff (except for the interlude Track 5). This lack of diversity hampers the album’s memorability, a common problem in old school Death metal. Additionally, the track names are absurdly pretentious and overlong, and their inclusion in this review would ruin its overall rhythm, so I took the liberty of keeping them out.
In conclusion, Dead and Dripping has delivered an intriguing and interesting album. While it may not offer completely original elements, it provides a satisfying dose of brutal yet intricate music. Perhaps the band’s seriousness is questionable, considering the song titles, but there might be hidden meanings awaiting discovery, but I haven’t heard them yet. Either way, it’s an enjoyable listen that caters to those seeking a dose of old-school Death metal with a modern twist, and it may even satiate your desire for gratuitous violence in music.
(3 / 5)
