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DISFUNERAL
Blood Red Tentacle

Redefining Darkness (2022)
Rating: 7/10

Over half a decade ago someone mentioned this French death metal act to me, but I forgot to check them out such has been the glut of bands within the genre. So here I am, five years after their 2017 self-titled EP diving into Disfuneral for the first time with their debut full-length Blood Red Tentacle.

The macabre introductory solo, the dull thud of miserable drums, and suddenly there’s a foul stench of Autopsy, especially as vocalist Renaud Mann maniacally moans and squawks like a pig being slaughtered.

One-minute in to opening track ‘Feastering The Dead’ and I’m impressed, nodding along to the grind before the quartet rushes like black, seething fog and coughs up a strong Swedish element. To be honest, the latter influence is something I could do without considering the amount of bands churning it out, but this still remains fresh and punishing as it loops back into murkiness before again resorting to that foaming pace.

The vibe has certainly been set then and continues with the snappy blitzkrieg of ‘Dissolved’ and the abysmal morbid melody of ‘Eternal’. The guitar work here from Florian Brabant is duly noted by this listener, because through the grim gushes and thrashing death exploits there’s a guy who brings atmospheric breaks… although not enough for my liking.

However, there’s no denying the aggression of this opus; a gnashing sensibility bloated with catchy segments in spite of a complete lack of originality. But as I’ve said in countless death metal reviews before, if it’s executed correctly then there’s still much to savour (just check out the recent release from Xorcist and their debut album Deadly Possession).

‘Lord Of Discord’ continues the rushing theme of classic Entombed, and ‘Maim, Kill, Burn’ follows suit as does ‘Devourer Of Light’, although the more measured assault here makes for a welcome break from the hostile flourishes.

The title cut has a cool, suspenseful old school introduction with that meandering axe work and stabbing percussion, while ‘Dead’ simmers with similar suspenseful intensity as it lumbers and exudes menace. The band showcases its ferocity either as a more violent, faster animal or as a sickening, slow entity, but there’s always something to savour; the combo creating no frills homage to the early 90s but with enough froth and “frashin” to annihilate.

Blood Red Tentacle does at times have me craving for the early 90s again and how that buzz felt first time round, and so I understand why current bands worship such aesthetics. The only issue is that such bands just may not get the recognition they deserve, but if they are doing this for fun then all the praise to them. I just don’t see how three or four records like this will hold my attention, but as it is, Disfuneral’s Swedish homage is aggressive and on-point, so give it a go. Cool cover art too.

Neil Arnold

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