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Insision: End of all

13/12/11 || The Duff

I don’t have many recent death metal bands in my list of top bands expansive though it is, Decapitated and Insision the two I can think of. Well, these talented Swedish death metallers who follow in the footsteps of all that is classic American have had some real unfortunate experience label-sent; after leaving Earache’s Wicked World in pursuit of greener pastures, they signed to Dental Records only to find minimal support; now, with Sevared Records, I would have thought a label for less accessible acts/those demanding less of a distribution (i.e. US-exclusive, considering the absurd delivery fees), Insision have found a home after being battled around and, much like Aeon, unfairly overlooked despite all kinds of awesome emanating from their core.

It being three years since the obliterating, catchy as fuck “Ikon”, Insision have shown their hearts are still in the game even if progress appears a touch dispirited – “End of All” is a six track E.P. comprising one intro, four new cuts and a re-recording of “Ex Oblivion” off the masterpiece “Beneath the Folds of Flesh”. Seems to me a touch of an obvious choice, it being the absolute best track off the album, but they’ve touched it up some, specifically teched it up by adding more triplets (either that or the production to “Beneath…” is a lot muddier than I thought) and removed the solo, plus what sounds like an added new riff in place of the lead that fits like a glove.

The new drummer now having settled into the folds two albums now (so not new any more) is beginning to fill the shoes left by Thomas Daun off the debut who I was absurdly fond of; the guy has been a fantastic replacement since the day he started, but personally is a case of “but I dug the shit out of the other guy”; it’s possible the reason I’m taking a shine to him so easily here is due to the drum production on “End of All” matching the light affair of “Beneath the Folds of Flesh”, so I doubt skill-wise he’s ever fallen short, I’ve just been a bitch to please. I would urge they use the same production for the new record, and not just for the drums; there is a dryness to this record equally found on “Beneath the Folds of Flesh” that suits Insision remarkably, making the riffs sound evil and dirty but also allowing them to crunch through with new-age values.

Johansson is as always a remarkably tight rhythm player (despite what appears one-take recordings, there being a couple of string damping issues not brushed up on but even more to the point left in the recording), his leads a mix of shred and Azagthoth worship, great phrasing, overall an underrated guitar player for sure. Birath is as ever one of my biggest death metal vocal heroes. The guy eats and shits evil, has a guttural timbre unmatched by many, writes catchy vocal lines and lyrics that are a mix of ever so slightly broken English, the study of all that God and Jesus stuff and the condemning of mankind, delivered beautifully.

A gripe with “End of All” would be the outro riff as it were to the first track being too long; I feel a touch cheated for the five-minute main course that closes on a generic breakdown death metal riff with hints of atmosphere that lasts a third of the track. Otherwise, it’s all gold: “Curvature” has a swing-death riff that sounds like a fuller version of something off Bloodbath’s “Nightmares Made Flesh”; otherwise expect triplets, brutality-tremolo, catchy-as-all-AIDS. Atmosphere that steps outside of traditional EVULE death metal bounds is quite the importance to today’s Insision, specifically tracks “Expire” and “Descend” which expand on the ideas touched on with “The Magnet Soul” off “Ikon”. I can only applaud the direction they’re taking all the while sticking about as close to their roots as imaginable.

So Insision are writing for the next record, and I hope beyond all hopes it works out for them; Sevared seem to be minorly raping the band’s International clientele (I’m assuming where the bulk fanbase is situated) with delivery costs for an E.P. and t-shirt deal, I for one will support them because I’m a fanboy, but I can’t see many doing likewise because, well let’s face it, Insision are hardly offering anything new. I can only pray that they pursue their ambition though, because following “Revealed and Worshipped” the guys seem to have become criminally less recognized while remaining without doubt a preeminent death metal band doing the rounds; proof of this is that “End of All” has the typical Insision formula and is still kicking my ass despite three full-lengths of exactly the same – never get tired of what these guys have to deliver, so await the new full-length with bated breath I’ll continue.

7,5

Information
Released: 2011
Label: Sevared Records
Website: Insision MySpace
Band
Carl Birath: vocals
Roger Johansson: guitars
Joel Andersson: bass
Marcus Jonsson: drums

Tracklist
01. Intro
02. Expire
03. Curvature
04. Descend
05. Beckoning
06. Ex Oblivione

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