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DERANGED
Deeds Of Ruthless Violence

Agonia (2020)
Rating: 7/10

As prolific as a bloodthirsty serial killer, Sweden’s Deranged have been hacking, slashing and butchering their way through the brutal death metal scene since the early 90s. In that time the cruel combo has released nine albums before this, my favourite being 2002 effort Plainfield Cemetery.

Admittedly, I’ve taken a break from these guys every now and then, but that’s something I tend to do with this sort of style of metal anyway as it enables me to appreciate it more, even though, to some extent, I know what I’m in for time and time again – relentless, battering, bruising and murderous death metal played at speed with half hints of melody.

Imagine then a Cannibal Corpse-styled hammering with such delightful song titles such as ‘Engulfed By Hate I Stab To Kill’, ‘I Send You Half The Kidney I Took’ and, for now, the rather aptly titled ‘Quarantine Required For Living Entities’.

So, what better way to get through a global virus outbreak than by slapping on a splattery soundtrack such as this; eight tracks of unrelenting brutal death metal sure to distract you from the outside world of worry.

Deranged has always been a formidable force. And even when slowing down on the superb ‘Engulfed By Hate I Stab To Kill’ they remain such a bone-splintering act, driven by Thomas Ahlgren’s unflinching guitar work and Johan Bergström’s hefty vocal growls.

‘Carnal Provision For The Rotten Masses’ glints with twisted melody. With very deft flecks of Morbid Angel in the guitar work, this remains one of my favourite tracks because of its accessibility and the suspense it creates, because pace is rarely applied. Meanwhile, opener ‘Necro-Bulimia Interfering Afterlife’ churns and froths like a mincing machine snapping at your limbs.

Everything about a Deranged release is always psychotic and guttural, manic and heavy, and there’s no change here. The band is happy with grinding out pulverising death metal expressions that are as subtle as a brick to the balls.

Deeds Of Ruthless Violence, like the band’s other releases, doesn’t try to be overly complex or fiddly. Flashes of technical menace are certainly applied, but for the most part – although not old school – this album pounds and grinds, it’s as simple as that. Whether that’s enough to keep me interested for more than a few spins I’m not so sure, and that’s why my visits to such a band are infrequent. However, unhinged fans of such blood-soaked horror will no doubt feast upon this latest batch of songs, even though the thrills of the kills start to wear off rather quickly.

Neil Arnold

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