DJINN-GHÜL - Mechalith EP

Labels: Vicious Instinct Records

Formats: CD/Digital

Release Date: 09 Dec 2021

Tracklist:

1. Ore & Fluid

2. The Mechalith

3. Pleonexia

4. Drosera

The death metal genre continues to expand and evolve, growing in different directions with well-established bands releasing material alongside a constant stream of newcomers and reissued bands. American/Venezuelan duo DJINN-GHÜL sit at the experimental end of death metal and have done so since 2016. In 2017 they released their debut full-length Wander Not, following it in 2020 with their second full-length Sordes Pyramis, both of which sandwiched by 2019 EP Exo Sin. Their newest EP Mechalith was released in December 2021 via Australian label Vicious Instinct Records, who are also home to Alter Idem, Beyond The Structure and Nihility amongst others.

Taking a look at DJINN-GHÜL’s recommended artists on their bandcamp page (which consist of Author & Punisher, Godflesh and Wormed), you get a good sense of what you’re getting into before hitting play on Mechalith. Sure enough, opener ‘Ore & Fluid’ is a mix of brutal death metal and industrial dread. Warp-speed percussion, downtuned guitars, deep growls and electronics add plenty to the overall atmosphere early on. ’The Mechalith’ is the perfect blend of slamming death and grind, with a tempo that’s dictated by the riffs as much as it is the drums. The sound here reminds me of old Earache band The Berzerker (if anybody remembers them!). You’re not getting much melody here but that’s fine because it’s all about auditory terrorism with this one.

There’s a disturbing sense of claustrophobia when listening to ‘Pleonexia’, which doesn’t shift even when the duo take a breath. Once your at this point in the EP you’re certainly in it till the end. Closing with ‘Drosera’, DJINN-GHÜL push the extremes further again but also allow for some introspection, which breaks up the madness briefly. Although I’ve tried bravely, it’s hard to truly convey the true heaviness of both this band and this EP. It’s short format is good in my opinion as a full album at this intensity might become too much (but what do I know). I’d recommend listening to it properly if you’re a fan of the heavier side of modern death metal. Overall, a well produced and executed EP that will definitely live with you for a while.

For Fans Of: The Berzerker, Author & Punisher, Wormed, The Amenta & Cerebric Turmoil

You can stream and purchase Mechalith on CD or digitally below:-

You can also buy it from Vicious Instinct Records here - https://www.viciousinstinctrecords.com/store/p/djinn-ghl-mechalith-cd

DJINN-GHÜL - https://www.facebook.com/DjinnGhul

Vicious Instinct Records - https://www.facebook.com/viciousinstinct

Irillion - Fatanyu

Labels: Self-Released

Formats: Digital

Release Date: 30 Oct 2019

Tracklist:

1. Fatanyu

2. Belzoond

3. Meneltarma

South America, the homeland of a certain Mr. Paucar Toledo (well known rip-off merchant in extreme metal circles). So much so that he gives zines a really bad name, due to his constant begging for physical review material and the like. Bands and fans alike, beware!  Thankfully, it's also the homeland of many very good metal bands and this evening I'm going to be focusing on Venezuelan (although now based in Mexico) black metal band Irillion and their second EP Fatanyu, which was released last October. The duo formed in 2015 and swiftly released their first EP Egledhron in 2016.

I can’t remember when I last featured any South American extreme metal band on here. It’s been a while though. I have to make an apology to Irillion too, because they wrote to me a while ago and have been very patient. Their take on black metal is lo-fi yet symphonic and riddled with pure evil. The title-track ‘Fatanyu’ is a mix of mid-paced and blasting metal with some of the lowest, harshest vocals I’ve heard in ages.

Musically, they’re way more solid than the production suggests on here, though that’s not a criticism of the production in any way, as it adds a huge amount of character to their music. ‘Belzoond’ is another mixed-tempo song, which kind of leans towards the doomier end of the black metal spectrum at times, while also adding flourishes of death. As a duo, they create a lot of atmosphere as well.

The final song on the EP is huge sound-wise. ‘Meneltarma’ is a driving menace that’s both up-tempo and evil at the same time. It’s probably the most orthodox black metal song on Fatanyu, yet Irillion’s ability to inject it with melody and ambience is pretty clear for all to see (and hear). When they slow things down they become a dirtier, gnarlier proposition and the variation is highly applauded.

Irillion sounds like a band mature beyond their years in release terms. Many people may avoid taking a risk on bands from South America now, but you shouldn’t avoid this one. Incredibly immersive and atmospheric black metal cloaked in intrigue and malice. 

You can stream and grab a $2 download of the EP below:-

Irillion - https://www.facebook.com/irillion/