Gravefeast

Desolator is one of many newly-arising "retro death metal" bands, bringing back styles of DM that were abandoned in the late 90s. Most of these bands (like Overoth, for whom I wrote a review a while back) don't understand the difference between 90's death metal and simplicity, and tread on a road whose gravel has been smashed to dust with repetition; others simply try so hard to make it "retro" that it reverts to a strange, mentally-retarded breed of modern death metal (like Bloodbath). Desolator, however, have found the perfect balance. You can tell it's a retro attempt and not true 90's death metal, but Cannibal Corpse would have been proud to have these guys open for them.

With that being said, this album is generic, as most 90's death metal was to an extent, but it still has plenty of personality. Production is standard for a band's first demo (just a bit of crunchy static, but not enough to actually hamper the experience), yeah, but everything has something that makes it original, or at least would evolve into something original within a few more releases.

The guitars are simplistic, usually never playing more than a tremolo on a few nearby frets or quarter notes, but they still have enough originality to keep them from fading into the background, never to be seen again. There's points where there seems to be influence from modern death metal bands, but yet it still gives you the impression that you heard this sometime back in the 1990s, when MTV was interviewing Chuck Schuldiner and not playing episodes of Jersey Shore. For example, I swear that the song "Gravefeast" sounds like The Red Chord, due to the way it uses the small, subtle sweeps throughout the first part of the song's main riff. Also unlike most "retro" death metal bands, Desolator branches out while retaining riffs that kick ass; something Overoth failed to do. The bass is actually able to be heard at times (is it really that hard to not tune the low end frequencies out, all you deathcore morons!?), which is a plus, and he's doing exactly what he should be doing - following the rhythm guitar where ever he goes. I kinda wish I could hear it better, but this is a demo tape with limited refinement in the sound, so it's all cool.

The drums are just a bit disappointing. Bass drum/snare alteration here, snare hit every fourth beat there. I'm not a big fan of most drummers in classic death metal anyway, but this is below my standards for them. I'll admit, I'm a bit scathing when it comes to my reviews of drummers (maybe my standards are too high; too much Nergal?), so if the owner of the band someday sees this, remember, I'm harsh on everyone like this. Anyway, nothing is truly being attempted with this guy; he's going with the flow and he's not branching out with the guitarists.

The vocals are interesting. Growls are the vocalists' (there's two of them, if I'm not mistaken) main form of communication; screams are rare. The growls are typical Death or Possessed growls. Sometimes, though, the singers will go very low into a Suffocation-type growl; something that was quite rare back then. It doesn't take the 90s atmosphere away, fortunately; it only serves to improve what's there.

Overall, this is probably the most successful retro death metal album I have heard to date. Although I will probably never own a physical copy of this album in my lifetime, given the option, I would. To anyone going to one of this band's shows, you would be wise to do the same and buy this album, for the band who created it have succeeded where many others have failed...recreating the past.