### Dim Mak: The emergence of reptilian altars

#### 22/03/12 || InquisitorGeneralis

Metal is kind like a huge orgy you have been in for years; it’s cool and all and you are happy to be doing it, but after a while it’s the same of Eiffel Towers and triple penetrations over and over and over again. However, every now and then a huge cock smacks you in the face and you have renewed energy to get back in the pile and piledrive a dozen or so more strangers. Audio Autopsy is that orgy, and Dim Mak is that brow-smacking penis. It was the first thing I listened to for February’s edition of Audio Autopsy and I immediately was hooked. Dim Mak’s grindy style of technical death metal is right up my Misery Index and Dying Fetus alley. Score one for Red Bank, New Jersey; the fuming shithole that Dim Mak hails from.

Having blastmaster John Longstreth from Origin and Gorguts immediately gives Dim Mak some street cred. His performance is excellent but definitely toned down from the hyperspeed insanity of Origin, and the tunes here are much more accessible than those found on Gorguts’ brain-fucking masterpiece “Obscura”. Guitarist Shaune Kelley has some history too, playing back in ze day in the often overlooked Ripping Corpse and doing guitar duty on Hate Eternal’s “Fury and Flames”. Joe Capizzi’s vocals are a bit off sometimes; I think there is some Nile worship going on when he tries to chant/talk/growl at the same time. It doesn’t always work, but the strength of the band overpowers any vocal failings.

A lack of variety does water things down a bit, but at least the style that the band sticks too is an enjoyable one. It is clear that Dim Mak made a conscious effort to ease up on the insanity and focus more on those sexy, Jerseylicious hardcore/thrash inspired grooves that dwell within the souls of all who come from that infernal place. This is not to say songs like “Thrice cursed” and “The sounds of carnage” don’t bring the pain because this is still serious death metal. I can’t really point out a weak song on here; things are good from end to blasty, groovy end.

So, let’s wrap this up quick; Longstreth lays it down on the drums, the riffs are catchy and interesting, the groove factor is in effect, and the brutality is (still present and) scaled back enough to make this DimDICK swallowable. Am I going to run out and get the band’s entire back catalogue now?

Fuck no.

Am I going to listen to “The Emergence of Reptilian Altars” on the regular for a while?

Goddamn right.

For the most part, I still say Fuck you, New Jersey, but in this case I am willing to accept goodness from the state that is the final resting place for Whitney Houston and hopefully the soon-to-be final resting place for all of the douchewipes from “Jersey Shore”…may Satan take them unto his bosem ASAP.

- Information
- Released: 2011
- Label: Willowtip
- Website: Dim Mak MySpace
- Band
- Joe Capizzi: vocals
- Shaune Kelley: guitars
- Scot Hornick: bass
- John Longstreth: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Thrice Cursed
- 02. The Sounds of Carnage
- 03. The Secret of the Tides of Blood
- 04. Between Immensity and Eternity
- 05. Through the Rivers of Pestilence
- 06. Fully Disassembled
- 07. Kutulu
- 08. The Emergence of Reptilian Altars