siLLy puPPy Brutal slam death metal and grindcore seem to be the most popular forms of metal for fledgling artists from far flung geographical locations to let off steam. Both are ugly, grimy forms of aggressive caustic metal that allow the most vile and repugnant subject matter to be accompanied by a frenetic distortion frenzy along with indecipherable guttural growls that refer to the grotesque and disturbing. Guess what? It’s everywhere!

DISSEVERED is one of a gazillion newer brutal slam death metal bands out there these days. This band comes from the off-the-radar city of Vientiane, the capital city of the nation of Laos which is situated in between the more popular destinations of Thailand and Vietnam. This group of four members who simply go by Tun (bass), Peter (drums), Ben (guitars) and Tock (vocals) has released one demo, one 4-way split and this so-called album AGONIZED WAILS OF DISSEVERMENT which at 23 1/2 minutes is more like an EP.

Let’s face it. When it comes to the one-dimensional sound of brutal death metal it’s all about the subtleties that distinguish it from other bands. After all, the guitar chugs and growly vocals are almost ubiquitous. DISSEVERED sounds pretty much like a whole legion of newer brutal deathened headbangers. Much like Colombia’s Amputated Genitals, much like the US based Embodied Torment, Estonia’s Baalsebub and neighboring Thailand’s Ecchymosis however this band does offer one distinct element i’ve never heard before in a band of this sort.

What distinguishes DISSEVERED from the multitude of almost identical others is that the drummer seems to use exclusively some sort of bongo or other ethnically derived percussive device. There is no flashy blastbeats or even just regular metal workouts. While the guitars, bass and growls chug away, Peter is simply keeping a primitive beat much like a tabla percussionist would only by accentuating the framework fo the beat instead of adding any fills. For whatever reason this is very effective as it offers a sensualness to the caustic orotundity of the aggression. It also has a tinny sound that punctuates the din quite effectively. I enjoyed this album a lot but when all is said and done it’s not anything to get wildly excited about either.