Devoured Elysium – Void Grave
Release Date: 18th February 2022
Label: Gore House Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Brutal Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, Slam, Tech Slam.
FFO: Distant, The Faceless, Archspire.
Review By: Mike Leighton
Slam and Brutal Death Metal band, Devoured Elysium, became a musical group back in 2017 and have remained active until this day. Since their inception in Izmir, Turkey, Devoured Elysium have released 4 total singles as well as one prior full-length release, Extermination Policies, back in 2020. Devoured Elysium’s lyrical content has focused on themes involving alien invasions, gore, and science fiction in general. Void Grave, the group’s second full-length, is no exception to these themes, focusing on an epic cosmic tale inspired by the “Doom” video game franchise. The band consists of four members with Kerem Akman on vocals, Atakan Kayman on drums, Güven Elban on guitar, and Hürkan Çağlar on bass guitar!
Void Grave, coming in at just under 27 minutes, is chock-full of pummelling drums, and a crunchy yet technical guitar composition. The album artwork alone, shown depicting a large creature amidst a cosmic landscape, evokes very epic and grandiose yet haunting tones.
1. Setup: A bit over a minute of eerie effects, and very anti-harmonic atmospheric tones leading the listener directly into the first full track. It almost sounds like some of the sounds are reversed; like being pulled into a black hole.
2. Void Grave: We begin with the album’s titular track. The first thing that is apparent is that the drums are very overpowering on this record. At times, between the drums and guitars, it can be hard to hear the vocals as they sound a bit muted, and to me left a little to be desired, especially with them being layered underneath all the other sounds. Overall, I enjoyed the guitar riffs as well as the use of harmonics.
3. Mastermind: The listener is greeted with an epic assault of drum fills as well as a very fluid, moving guitar riff that is quite reminiscent of the deathcore band, Distant. Littered with downtempo riffs, the occasional tremolo, and some very quick bass lines, this track really gives the listener a feel for what Devoured Elysium are capable of going forward.
4. Green Screen Failure: One of the two singles released, Green Screen Failure begins with a slow, somber guitar riff accompanied by a build-up of atmospheric tones and slow, yet punctual drum notes. This track really paints a picture for the entire album regarding the story Devoured Elysium are telling. It tells the story of a cosmic entity known as “The Collector,” or “Mind Hunter” who bends beings, his slaves, to its will; utilizing their eyes as well as their minds to spread its reach and influence throughout the universe. The words “green screen” seem to have a dual meaning in this song.
“The connector of the universe; eyeless but sees…
Mouthless but speaks.
They share their eyes with the green screen, animate the reality.
Green screen in the eyes, green screen in the mind.”
While a green screen can be used in video editing to show the viewer whatever the editor wants, it is apparent in this song that “The Connector” sees what his slaves see and can also use his/her mind to project what he wants on the eyes and minds of his followers, or slaves. Another great track showing just what Turkish band, Devoured Elysium have to offer. The bouncy guitar riff at around one and half minutes in, one can only imagine would be perfect to get a crowd riled up and ready to go, especially side by side with some very succinct, well-timed fretwork and some tasty pinch harmonics. Very Doom-esque, or even space invasion in its concept. This track is the glue or binding agent for the album; really shedding light on the story behind the music.
5. Deus Ex Machina: Right off the bat, the listener is transported directly into a feeling of floating through space; and an initial sense of safety. Alongside that feeling, you have what can only be described as an entity of epic proportions breathing behind you, lusting out of hunger for something. Then almost immediately the drums fade into a frontal assault aside a striking guitar line. Vocals are quite a bit more prominent on this track compared to past tracks. A heavy hitting standout track through and through with an absolutely brutal breakdown in the middle alongside some evil guttural sounds. Not only a standout track, but a great mix of sludgy yet technical guitar work with some well-placed pinch harmonics! Vocals are reminiscent of vocalist Ben Duerr from Shadow of Intent throughout this song.
6. Slam Panzer ft. Traumatomy: A behemoth of a track filled with guitars and vocals of epic proportions; befitting of the name Slam Panzer, named after the German battle tanks from WWII. This song packs quite the punch, and the drums are phenomenal. Almost feels like a direct sequel to Deus Ex Machina; as if they weren’t quite finished telling the story.
7. Spinerender: This record is direct, punchy and to the point. This song is a real backbreaker of a track (see what I did there?). A short song, but any longer, and it would lose some of that previously mentioned punchiness. A big track, and one that is sure to open a few pits during live shows.
8. Oracle: This track, right from the start, shows much more versatility in vocalist, Kerem Akman’s range. With a higher range than heard before showcased from the get-go, filled with heavy distorted riffs and fast, pelting drums, this wonderfully crafted, speedy, and technical guitar solo hits strong just before the track finishes.
9. Chrono-shift: Awesome and refreshing guitar riff right at the beginning before continuing the audio assault. Chrono-shift is a very rambunctious track with a couple very quick yet epic showcase of just what drummer, Atakan Kayman, and guitarist, Guven Elban, are capable of. With that, a brutal breakdown hits the listener before the track ends just as quickly as it began, with some mind-melting double bass and rolling guitars.
Much like the track length of Spinerender, this album is on the shorter side, but that doesn’t detract from the concept or the audible onslaught it provides. Once Devoured Elysium begin their brutal attack and get going, there is no stopping them until the album is finished. I would gladly blast this album from my speakers when destroying creatures from Hell in the brutal first-person shooter “Doom”, or even lifting in the gym.
(3.5 / 5)
