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DOWN AMONG THE DEAD MEN
…And You Will Obey Me

Transcending Obscurity (2018)
Rating: 8/10

Here’s the third outing from Down Among The Dead Men, who feature death metal stalwarts Dave Ingram (vocals; Echelon / ex-Benediction / ex-Bolt Thrower) and Rogga Johansson (guitar and bass; Echelon / Johansson & Speckmann / Dead Sun / Putrevore et al). This time around the duo are aided by Kjetil Lynghaug (lead solos; Echelon / Johansson & Speckmann / Paganizer / Stass) and Erik R. Bevenrud (drums; Stass).

Fans of very heavy, crust-coated death metal will love and obey this 30-minute barrel of brutality, as from the off we’re swept up in a tide of devastating yet catchy riffage, punishing percussion and bestial bass-lines which when thrown into the melting pot result in a vicious marrying of grindcore, death metal and crust.

Indeed, a majority of releases built upon Rogga Johansson’s production line of riffs are going to drag in those with a penchant for heavy music. It’s also only natural that at times Down Among The Dead Men do drift into familiar sounding arenas within which the band members have previously fought; particularly Benediction with Ingram’s furious flurry of growls, and there’s a strong air of Scandinavian richness in that guitar sound too.

While death metal seems to be the main throbbing vein running through this release, the hints of, say, Terrorizer seem rather natural as the record kicks off with the gargantuan crush of ‘Destroy The Infinite’. The slow tempo moodiness speeds up to a gallop as the percussion strikes harder and harder before a melancholic melody leaks into the fray until the whole barrage gives way to devastating speed.

Flashes of a punky attitude also emerge, with some of the crustier breaks surprising nice twists and unexpected turns just when you think the combo are all too rigid in their death metal structures. So the catchiness is very much key here as the likes of ‘The End Of Time’ supply rivers of crunching melody, and ‘The Age Of Steel’ comes fully loaded with punky flavours.

For me, the title track is most certainly a standout and showcases just how Ingram has never, unlike so many, lost his vocal prowess and power. This one is a hasty affair offering up a straight death metal groove flecked with D-beat niftiness, and that hammering chorus just carves itself onto your brain.

However, in spite of the sprigs of varying ingredients, this is not a record that strays from its punishing path and there’s always that Swedish style of grinding to behold. But that’s no shock. And when one considers that this record only runs for half-an-hour we should be just thankful that the team has remained so focus in its plight; one of being to truly decimate the listener with pulverizing edgy yet accessible death-crust.

This opus really does have such a superior edge over so many releases this year, especially that turkey of a Memoriam opus (The Silent Vigil). Indeed, the bite alone of tracks such as ‘Omega’ and ‘Darkness Of Glass’ is vicious just by that first listen. But after a few spins you begin to realise that although …And You Will Obey Me is still a rather standard record style wise, everything about it seems so huge. So hats off to the production team and the musicianship which just leaves mighty holes in the flesh.

Down Among The Dead Men’s third opus is a rather savage blast hinting at the past, but very much gargantuan by design.

Neil Arnold

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