To Prevail in Disgust

Sepsism really are a spectacular band, and although thier previous records were all filled with excellent riffing, it is here, in To Prevail In Disgust that Sepsism really demonstrate the full extent of their potential.

Although everything that comprises your average brutal death band is here; guttural vocals, stomach churning breakdowns and sawing riffs, and fast, blasting drums, Sepsism have a very distinctive and primal character that sets them apart from the generic third tier. The most obvious quality here is riffing; it is frequently catchy, heavy as hell, always sinister, and features a good variation between heavy chugs, blazing tremolo picking and intricate, almost technical riffs. The only thing lacking are solos, but it is definitely not in the character of this particular band's music to break the lurching grind with melody or virtuoso. Backing it up is a bass that's somewhere behind there; the mix is heavy as hell while remaining clear, so the bass is everywhere and nowhere at once. It seems to work however.

The vocalist does an excellent job; guttural vocals are accomplished, the higher-pitched vocals are a real gem though. The most apt comparison would be to Daleks. Yes, the higher screams actually sound like something that would have enamated from those freaky plunger wielding tin-cans, but surprisingly, not only does it sound refreshing and original, it also sounds psychotic.

Lastly, the drumming while going all-out at times and having a good dose of blasts, also is distinctive in its own right. For one thing, this isn't a blastfest; Sepsism revel and excel in the Devourment-esque bowel-squeezing mid/slow-paced grooves and grinds, and the drumming highlights this suitably. The other good thing is floor tom usage. How many brutal death bands really make a point of using their toms for aesthetics? Sepsism do; the drummer's rolls frequently utilize the nice bassy, hollow tone of his floor toms, and complete a sound that I can only describe as, if somewhat hesitantly, tribal. Yes, that's what Sepsism sound like; on top of being all of brutal, fast, churning...they sound tribal. There is nothing fancy in this psychotic whirlwind of death metal; it's stripped down, percussive, sadistic and primal...and it sounds utterly unique to these ears, which is frankly a miracle given the ease with which many brutal death bands write themselves into mediocrity.

It really is a shame that Sepsism have practically no press or following; they're one of the best heavy hitters in death metal and they deserve recognition for it.