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ANTROPOMORPHIA
Rites Ov Perversion

Metal Blade (2014)
Rating: 7/10

Dutch death metallers AntropomorphiA formed in 1989 under the moniker of Dethroned Empire before altering their name and then releasing the demo Bowel Mutilation in 1992. This was followed a year later with the EP Necromantic Love Songs, but it wasn’t until 1998 that the full-length debut platter emerged in the form of Pure. As with so many bands though, the 90s was not overly kind to AntropomorphiA and they split in 1999.

However, 2009 saw the return of the band, although their 2012 opus Evangelivm Nekromantia didn’t live up to expectation for me. And so, I’m willing to give this quartet another go.

Having acquired another guitarist (Jos van den Brand in 2013), Rites Ov Perversion is the latest offering. It boasts nine tracks, including a half-decent cover of Death’s classic ‘Open Casket’, and for the most part is a memorable foray into rather formulaic mid-90s death metal which has occasional hints of older styles and remains violent throughout.

What I do like about this opus is the band’s ability to supply some truly weighty and despicable slower segments, bolstered by those deep, hoarse vocal rants and catchy riffage. When the band does speed up it still makes for accessible listening, and this is where the nods to old school death metal come in. Both of these varying speeds are evident right away on opening battering ram ‘Temphioth Workings’, which actually incorporates some catchy thrash-styled melodies, but the best track on the album is the infectious rhapsody of ‘Carved To Pieces’ which is both dense and airy in it delivery – the cavernous vocals sort of floating with menace on the fleet-of-foot riffs.

Grand Supreme Blood Court it most certainly isn’t, but AntropopmorhiA are clearly masters at injecting catchy elements within the solid framework which consists of strong, yet no frills percussion, that belligerent bass and the fearsome twin guitar assault. Again, ‘Carved To Pieces’ benefits from those menacing slower patches, giving the track a real deep malevolence as the track creeps with its juddering bass and pensive drum taps.

Other tracks of note are ‘Nekrovaginal Secretions’, although for me it’s just a tad too polished; while I like to hear each instrument, there’s an almost clinical feel to it all when I’d much rather go for something far fustier. Having said that, ‘Nekrovaginal Secretions’ with its nod to that guttural Swedish grind is top notch death metal melody, but for me is bettered by the hammering speed of ‘Morbid Rites’ and the bass-lead creepiness of ‘Tevfelskvnst’ with its chugging, thrashing brooding to the point where the Dutch deathsters have more of a thrash metal appeal as opposed to death metal

That is where this record sits; not quite stuffy or pounding enough to be considered outright death metal. Instead, there is a strong element of groove to this piece and for that they should be commended, but those who were expecting something more volatile may be sorely disappointed. Rites Ov Perversion is more of a marrying of catchy chunks of death-thrash than anything else, but it’s still an orgy worth attending.

Neil Arnold

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