Subduer - Death Monolith (EP)

One could only intentionally make this sort of noisome spectacle and therein lies the ‘art’ and the sheer repugnance of it. It’s conception gives the impression of lack of funds, lack of knowledge, a lack of professionalism and this is genius in the sense that it isn’t haphazard and random so much as the sound creates listener disorientation and disgust. The bones of Subduer‘s compositions are structurally sound hardcore-driven riffing with the aplomb and surety of an early Beherit demo, yet by blurring the edges with recording tricks and post-production it seems all the more savage and off-the-cuff than it would as a plainly standardized war metal/powerviolence recording. “Execution Ritual” is perhaps both the most inspired high and irritating low of the EP contained in one piece. It’s powerful war metal statement has the electric clarity and freely hellish riffing that the genre thrives on yet at the mid-point cranked spoken sections invoke the most unholy peaks of harsh noise tapes and efficiently devour the aspirational metal that preceded it.

 

That seems to be the point, though, a complete subversion of the listener a redirection using expectational desecration to wrestle the listener’s mind into fuming defeat with the furor of terrorist propaganda droning in repetition. The thrill of unpleasant music amidst the hapless seas of so many thousands of musicians toiling away tirelessly to create a mental refuge, a pleasance to escape to, is not lost upon me. As open-minded as I can muster, I still can’t help but shrink away from Subduer‘s skull-cracking attack. No matter what volume you play ‘Death Monolith’ at it will still oppress you, irritate and upset your sensibilities as a listener and I have to give Subduer credit for zeroing in on the recesses of my mind that try desperately to shrink away from pain and forcing me to feel something unpleasant. An absolute horror.

 

Attribution: http://grizzlybutts.com/2018/05/08/subduer-death-monolith-2018-review/