404

Here we have the brief debut EP of Chinese brutal death metallers败血症 Septicaemia, named URL not found. At least, that’s how I’ve decided to refer to 404, because I can’t think of any other significance for such a number. Unlike their other EPs, this wasn’t collected on the 2014 compilation, although attentive listeners (as well as those with the ability to read Chinese characters) may recognize ‘排泄/吸收’ (‘Excrete/Absorb’) and ‘偏執狂殺手’ (‘A Paranoia Killer’), which were the two featured cuts there. In fact, as someone who listened backwards through Septicaemia’s discography, I’m a little surprised that I’ve remembered those two songs so well because I didn’t think that their approach was particularly memorable.

Other than the long creepy intro of distorted sounds and the misleading clean guitar playing that opens ‘戀屍癖’ (‘Necrophilia’), the entirety of 404 features differing patterns of technical riffing and slow chugging that benefit slightly from a rubbery low guitar tone. Each instrument is separated in the spacious mix, which means that one can focus on the direction of the bassist, who gets an occasional lead moment – something that the pair of guitarists are denied, despite a couple of fills. However, the diversions created by the string players are not backed up by anything but competence from the drummer and vocalist, both of whom turn in stock performances without much life or character. Changes of pace are handled without excitement or creative arrangements, meaning that the songs have few high and low points, an issue not helped by the monotonous growls.

This release does have some value for brutal death enthusiasts, especially with some of the more interesting riffs that turn up during ‘從黃昏到黎明’ (‘From Dusk Till Dawn’) and ‘Excrete/Absorb’. As the first release for Septicaemia, it might be thought that it represents a stepping stone for the quintet, though future releases didn’t really address the issues that I’ve mentioned. This will satisfy the brutal cravings of only the hungriest few.