OPPROBRIUM — Mandatory Evac (review)

OPPROBRIUM — Mandatory Evac album cover Album · 2008 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Mandatory Evac" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US death/thrash metal act Opprobrium. The album was self-released in November 2008. Opprobrium was originally called Incubus, and released two albums under that monicker in the late eighties/early nineties, but were forced to change their name because of trademark issues. All instruments and vocals were recorded by the Howard brothers, Moyes M. Howard (drums) and Francis M. Howard (vocals, bass, guitars). Opprobrium released their debut full-length studio album "Discerning Forces" in 2000, so they can´t be accused of being overtly productive. If you count the two Incubus albums, the band have released only four albums in 20 years.

Stylistically "Mandatory Evac" continues down the same death/thrash metal path that "Discerning Forces" also treads. At least to some extent, because "Mandatory Evac" is generally much darker, more aggressive, and production wise also a lot more filthy and raw than the case is with "Discerning Forces". Opprobrium/Incubus was always pretty aggressive but this time around they are positively pissed off. The vocals are fiercely aggressive and delivered in an intense semi-growling fashion, the riffs are heavy and dark with the occasional higher paced thrashy riff thrown in and the rhythms vary between heavy groove laden beats and faster paced drumming. The line between death metal and thrash metal has always been blurry when it comes to this band, but the extra dark and brutal sound of "Mandatory Evac" puts this one a bit closer to death metal than thrash metal in my book.

The tracks are generally short (very few exceed the 3 minutes mark) and "to the point" and that songwriting approach works well for the band on this release. As always the musicianship is organic and not clinically tight, which provides the music with a human touch. The tracks aren´t terribly varied, but the entertainment level is high from the opening brutal assault of "Dark Science" to the closing track "Sick of This". Featuring 12 tracks and a full playing time of 31:33 minutes, "Mandatory Evac" is not a very long album, but it´s intense and damn effective and a 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
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