Bludgeoned By Deformity is a new underground death metal kinda sorta supergroup with members in three different states.  Devin Swank (Sanguisugabogg, Tomb Sentinel, Earthburner, Immortal Torment, Ablation, ex-Limbsplitter), bassist Ethan Buttery (Jivebomb, Sinister Feeling), drummer Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Misery Index, End Reign, Fulgora, Lock Up, Scour), and guitarists Bradon Studebaker (Immortal Torment, ex-Rejoice) and Andre Pickens (Tsuris) have come together to release their debut 5-song ep Epoch Of Immorality.

The EP also features additional guests, including guitar from Chris Basile (Pyrexia) on “False Deliverance” and vocals from Don Campan (Waking The Cadaver) on “Extirpated Human Existence.” The band is already working on live shows as I write this.  Much of the EP was recorded in separate studios, which in some cases creates a mixed bag with the sound.  There is a strong older vibe from 90’s death metal bands, Internal Bleeding, Pyrexia, and Dehumanized.

“Invocation Of Suffering” starts deliberately with the double bass and mid-paced groove.  Devin sounds great on vocals, and he sounds especially angry on this.  The song is swift, and after a lengthy show clip, ending the song, this transitions right into the blast beats on “Immorality”.  Destructive.  The drums sound very raw on this recording, by the way. The heavily beatdown Pyrexia-inspired groove at the 50-second mark is terrific, which goes into an Internal Bleeding slower groove at the 1.28 section.  These parts should create some pits, no doubt.  After this part, the blast beat comes in, the snare sound has a really strange sound during these fast parts, and at times, I will point out, the songs do not sound completely cohesive.  The snare does drown out the music at times during those blasts. This off-production sometimes happens when you have bands file sharing, not in the studio together, and recording in different places.

“Intestinal Suspension” has more of the loud blast beats, but I’ll tell you the band truly shines on the slower beat-down grooves.  The name of the band fits perfectly during these moments, and I cannot get enough of the beatdown slams.  I went to the supermarket the other day, and someone was checking out a carton of eggs, and they were taking forever.  That’s when I growled at the top of my lungs Hey ya Bastid it’s time for the next song – “Extirpated Human Existence” and proceeded to level the place and the eggs.  This song is great. I think Devin, as he has commented on one of my signature growls, where I will growl a yup, he uses that same growl early on in this song, and this song is the best on the ep, due to the slams.  The mid-paced section and double pounding moments are intense, and the plethora of beatdown grooves is impressive.

Epoch Of Immorality is a fun EP by Bludgeoned By Deformity.  Outside of some production and cohesive issues, I have listened to this EP like 25x already.  It’s loud, abrasive, and has a lot of violent musical and vocal moments, which is how I love my death metal.

 

[Visit the band's website]

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