Time Signature Voice of death...

Genre: death metal

Deathchain are conventionally classified a death-thrash band, but, as the title of their sixth full-length indicate, "Ritual Death Metal" is more in the vein of death metal than thrash metal. And, given that the album deals with Mesopotamian deities of death, both title and musical direction are quite fitting.

After a creepy piano intro in the form of 'Voice of Sharur', all Mesopotamian hell breaks loose in the form of 'Stele ov the Vutlures', and the aggression and brutality initiated by this track pretty much holds throughout the album. Now, this is not to say that "Ritual Death Metal" is monotonous or one-tracked. On the contrary, while death metal is the anchor sound, Deathchain draw on various types of extreme metal, from grindcore (as heard in several insanely fast blastbeats) over black metal (check out 'King Pazuzu') to doom/sludge metal (as in 'Like Worms Upon the Lands'), and 'Tiamat's Eyes of Death' even features some extremely melodic passages.

While the title "Ritual Death Metal" might suggest a more esoteric and atmospheric production, the album has that brutal down-tuned sound associated with brutal death metal. And, not only is the production very good; so is the musicianship, as the performance is rock solid across the board.

Deathchain's latest effort is brutal, dark, and, well, a bag of goodies for any fan of death metal.