Nervous Decay

Coming with a pretty goofy cover artwork and being tagged as old school death metal the self-titled debut full length by the French death metal constructers Nervous Decay might surprise during a first listen. At least this was my experience as I pressed play and expected the traditional few classic accords this sub-genre is usually known for. Don’t get me wrong, I love old school death metal done in the way of old. However, this album has a few more tricks to offer and while in the wider context staying true to the roots of the genre it is also a refreshing take on it.

There are various angles and dimensions to this record. From just straight classic death metal as done by the US greats in the 90s to incredibly technical passages, to more chill or even psychedelic moments. Sometimes these things come gently, sometimes suddenly, but never in a jarring way that it detracts from the experience as such. Don’t get me wrong, this is not a technical death metal album by any means, but going into it with the wrong mindset might lead to a few surprising moments.

Some of the sections have a more laid-back feeling to them, with such calmer sections sometimes being followed by seamlessly transitions into sharper-edged riffs, blast beats and some groovy mid-tempo bangers. While Nervous Decay sometimes offer an indirect route to riff-driven mayhem, they always get there. There’s something respectable about honing in on the simplicity and brutality of old school death metal, but the bands that transcend basic riffage are the ones who come to reshape the genre and set a new standard for the modern days. While Nervous Decay might not be remembered as one of the defining bands they surely deserve a lot of credit for trying to get their own vision of this style across.

Often the band engages in both a high-speed series of harmonies and a handful of righteous grooves. It’s a testament to the band’s ability to never stop moving, and they are not afraid to throw a few more sophisticated pieces into the mix. The vocals on the other hand are classic mid-ranged roaring, underlining the fact that Nervous Decay are mainly interested in pumping out some face-melting tracks. The production is great, very diversified without coming across lifeless or flat. This is an album I can easily recommend to the majority of death metal fans as it offers something for everyone.