J-Man If brutal and technical death metal played at breakneck speeds with razor sharp precision is your preferred poison, the debut offering from Ad Patres may be right up your alley. Hailing from France, the quintet unleashed their first full-length statement, Scorn Aesthetics, in September of 2012 for Kaotoxin Records. Clocking in at just over a half-hour, Scorn Aesthetics is a very intense blast of death metal indeed, but it's also a very well-executed one. Although lacking in originality and memorability, the band's superb musicianship and professional sound makes this a worthy listen for fans of the genre.

Ad Patres' style of death metal is very comparable to Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, recent Napalm Death, and even Spawn of Possession - they sound a lot like the more 'technical' old school death metal bands, but with a few extra dashes of polish and brutality. The production is crystal-clear and the playing is very precise, and while these aspects do give the album a bit of a modern edge, Scorn Aesthetics is old school brutal death metal at its core without a doubt. Although this style of polished brutal technical death metal has been done to death in recent years, Ad Patres is certainly a very competent example of the style. They don't do anything too out of the ordinary here, but the stellar musicianship - Alsvid's drumming is especially impressive! - and occasional melodic riff both make this a worthy purchase for fans of the genre.

Ad Patres have delivered a pretty devastating debut with Scorn Aesthetics, and although it may not be anything to write home about, the band delivers their style of death metal with plenty of conviction and power. They will need a more distinct style if they wish to distinguish themselves from the hordes of other bands playing this sort of music, but fans of the genre certainly would not be making a mistake by giving this a spin. Fans of bands like Suffocation or Cannibal Corpse will want to check this one out!