Apostasy Records (2012)

There are no two ways about this: two seconds into “Mayhem Maniac Machine” the similarity to Necrophagia hits you straight in the face. But that is not necessarily a bad thing, and in this case it is excusable – the drummer did a brief tour of duty with the technical DM legends.

“Mayhem Maniac Machine” presents us with 35 minutes of brutal, technical DM that steers well clear of Scandinavian influences. To my ear the palette sounds more Polish and German with a slight nod to the US. Thrashy riffing and fills keep the music accessible and stop it going over the top into a full out holocaust. As the title would suggest, there is a mechanical aspect to the songs, as if some crazed scientist created a machine that would write modern sounding DM.

On the good side then, this album has brutality and accessibility. It is easy to get into and the type of thing you’d return to often. The musicianship is excellent and the production, while not adding much in the way of atmosphere, doesn’t get in the way. On the down side, “Mayhem Maniac Machine” is derivative and that is the kind of thing that can make it difficult for a band to get into the premier division. Definitely worth a listen though!

www.myspace.com/deadborn666
www.apostasyrecords.com

Rating 4.5 / 6

Composed by Peter Loftus