ALBUM REVIEW: Deiphago – I, The Devil

Here I review the brand new fifth album from Extreme Metal legends DEIPHAGO which is out via Hells Headbangers on April 30th.

1. Intro: Decimation sets things in with huge cinematic synths and creepy sampling that creates a strange beginning but an effective one, truly setting a large hype for the extremity ahead. I believe this is going to be some of the only “laid-back” material for the release. Bring it on!
2. Quantum Death forcefully hits us with ferocious drums, gruesome riffing and a generally noisy and intrusive soundscape, joined by hideous screeches. Sheerly abrupt, aggressive and tastefully dissonant, the band do not postpone driving right into total chaotic frenzy. Thrashing, blackened, death noise is thrown at us from all angles as the maniacal force of the band pummels out grinding bestial Metal with so much energy and hatred. This opening song hits hard, really setting the bar high for the rest of the album. The solo also captivates the blistering intensity which fits the song well. This is going to be some speedy, in-your-face material, as I would have hoped from DEIPHAGO.
3. Neuro-Satanic Circuit fires us back into convulsively beating and punishing guitar riffs, hammering drums and blackened aggression that is just so spitefully harsh. Dissipating to rebuild the fury of the obnoxious grooves and biting instrumentals with the tormenting vocal screams coating things beautifully. The strange timing of the music adds so much to the contorting hatred that is so present in the sound, the word chaotic barely even scratches the surface of this intrusive assault, truly some of the most extreme music you can witness with the frenzy of grindcore being added to the already well balanced mix of Black, Death and Thrash. Another killer track.
4. 11:4:6 grinds out some tight drums before hitting us with slower paced, melancholically drudging guitars and impactful drums. The more reserved approach of this song allow the atmosphere to rebuild and brings the chaotic elements further into the foreground. While it may seem the band are offering a break from the extremity, that couldn’t be further from the truth as we are given more catchy hooks and menacing grooves before being pummelled with totally piercing extremities once more. The solo was short but tastefully filled with insanity and more violence. While many bands try to create a punishing listen with intensity and speed, DEIPHAGO seem to master that with such ferocity, you cannot help but be impressed.
5. Deus Alienus starts with some killer grooving bass lines before the drums and guitars brutally drive out the totally menacing forces of the full band once more. The infectious aggression truly does inspire furious anguish in the most brilliant manner, something few bands can do so well. The animalistic ferocity and battle-hardened musical abilities of the band are impeccable but used in a way that doesn’t feel pretentious or weak, offering totally frenzied yet punchy and concise song structures that feel well-planned. Once more the vocalist adds some totally gnarly howls over the already jarring musicianship, which only adds to the intense experience of the album.
6. Chaos Protocols churns out more well built and intense instrumentals, hitting with strength and precision, filled with a sense of foreboding that soon descends into anarchy. The monolithic drums and grinding guitars are unrelenting with a seemingly endless supply of energy and aggression. Progressively gnarly riffs build into more chaotic death noise, barraging us with speedy grooves that are catchy yet intimidating. The discordant timing of the song with the crisp and eerie instrumentals sound so gruesome, especially when mixed with the violent morbidity of the vocals. This piece was a slightly less hectic but equally brilliant once, adding a slight bit of diversity to the album.
7. Anti-Cosmic Trigger jumps back into the most heinously aggressive, fast and crushing assaults yet, with huge walls of guitar and bass, bombastic drums and sparse builds to allow the song to regrow with even more chaotic menacing noise being thrown at us with all the strength the band has. The guitar riffs are fantastic and the drums are maniacal as per usual, with some tight grooves that give the song quite a catchy quality. While melodic might be a stretch, there is some really enjoyable musicianship on this piece under the grisly howls of the vocalist that I think will appeal to most Extreme Metal fans. The doomy riffs were nicely constrained by the fantastic guitar solo that hit all the right spots for me regarding this type of material. This track was absolutely killer, total headbanging and moshing fuel.
8. I, The Devil closes the album. Setting in with drawn out, psychedelic guitars and pulsating drums, giving a more doomy texture, much like the last track, I feel this song is going to be a nicely varied one. The chaotic surging instrumentals have so much weird and unique sounds within them that this is a track to devote your attention to, that is clear from the onset. Building up into ferocious beats that just pummel you with Extreme Metal skilfulness and while groovy, the music remains unpredictable and volatile which makes it all the more exciting. The drum work is unrelenting under the mayhem fuelled guitar riffing that is morbidly bombarding forth so many insane assaults in unison with the drums, including some nice little shreds into the riffs was a cool idea, working well with the chaotic sound of the band. Once the vocalist rejoins, all hell breaks loose going into one last bout of total warfare. A killer and nicely varied closing track, impressive material and a great ending.

This is certainly not music for the casual Metalhead. If you enjoyed punishing speeds and ridiculous levels of extremity, however, this is going to take you one step further into truly exhilarating and bestial soundscapes of total chaos and frenzy. DEIPHAGO are back with yet another entirely violent album that must be heard to be believed. -9/10