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Defiled: Divination

22/03/12 || BamaHammer

Defiled is a band that I’ve come to enjoy quite a bit. They’re also the main reason why I’ve set my sights on this burgeoning Tokyo death metal scene for so long, and I really have no intention of stopping my expedition. On the heels of discovering last year’s fantastic release, “In crisis,” I decided I would check out their 2003 effort, “Divination.”

At first I was a tad hesitant about checking it out. After all, as much as I enjoyed “In crisis,” it featured a completely retooled lineup from “Divination,” holding over only guitarist and de facto leader Yusuke Sumita. Bassist extraordinaire, Haruhisa Takahata, whom I immensely enjoy, was nowhere to be found, and I had my doubts about just how good “Divination” could possibly be. Luckily, and with a fair amount of pleasant surprise, I can say that “Divination” is not only better than “In crisis,” but it’s also one of the best death metal records I’ve heard in a while.

The album obviously sounds completely different from anything you’ll hear on “In crisis.” When that many parts are replaced, the overall tone and feel of the album is sure to shift, and this case is no different. Even though Sumita is a consistent factor, the guitars too have a different sound altogether. The slapping and popping bass techniques that Defiled used so well with Takahata replaced some equally impressive, albeit different, prominent bass techniques from Norihisa Fukuda. Hideki Fujimoto’s vocals are just as fantastic as Kenji Sato’s, and I’d probably give a slight edge to the drumming approach on “Divination” over “In crisis.” In any case, “Divination” is a fantastic sounding death metal album.

This album’s driving force are, of course, the groovy, catchy riffs and the intricate bass parts, which are all over the place. There are minuscule bass solos everywhere on this album. Some of them are perfectly placed to accent a change of mood or pace in a particular song, while others come out of left field and leave you completely blindsided. Either way, it’s awesome. The numerous smooth, jazzy bass licks and solos do nothing but suck you into the music even more whether you’re ready for them or not. Ultimately, it’s what makes this album very unique. There’s even a bass solo track titled “Floating sediment” which is kind of cool. Or boring. It just depends on how you look at it.

The riffs and rhythms you’ll find on “Divination” are, in my opinion, slightly more brutal than the band’s more recent offerings, but I feel like that’s mainly a production issue more than a songwriting issue. The guitar sound on “Divination” has much more clarity and “guts” than the piercing sizzle you hear on “In crisis.” That subtle difference creates a massive wall of chugging riffing for pretty much the duration of “Divination.” Other than the bass solo or the awkward, pointless track titled “Eciov errazib” (“Bizarre voice” backwards. I bet you know what that sounds like. Weak.), there’s really no filler to be found, and this is an album that you’ll want to hear in full doses time and time again.

Like I’ve said many times before, the Japanese death metal scene is very underrated, and bands like Defiled are an excellent example of why. They have loads of technical skill and a good knack for songwriting, but they hail from a scene that hasn’t had adequate exposure, and that part needs to change.

Information
Released: 2003
Label: Season of Mist
Website: http://www.defiled.info/
Band
Yusuke Sumita: guitars
Norihisa Fukuda: bass
Hideki Fujimoto: vocals
Yuichi Ishiguro: drums

Tracklist
01. Downfall
02. The Dormant Within
03. Divination
04. Stench Of Grudge
05. Fast Decline
06. Dissolved In Dust
07. Enraptured
08. Swollen Insanity
09. Through The Killing
10. Fear And Epicureanism
11. Odor Of Malignancy
12. Floating Sediment
13. Eciov Erazzib
14. Decadence

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