Chaos in Hell / Possessed by Death

What do I like about Death Metal? If you were to ask me that very important and vital question, I would have to tell you that I like pummeling, heavy, obscure sounding music with winding, dark solos and vocals that sound like they might as well have been recorded by one of the Old Gods. That is what Diabolic offer on this little compilation, featuring material from both of their existing demo EPs, and if I do say so myself, it is quite a satisfactory venture.

Diabolic don't fuck around here. The songs are all really short, with the longest one clocking in at 4:10, and they're also all very fast and heavy, with snarling riffs and a dark, gritty guitar tone to boot, backed up by bashing drums and melodic, twisted solos that really take this thing up a notch and make it sound just as cool and evil as Death Metal should always sound. Their conviction is sound and ironclad, their energy pure and unbridled and their fury blazing with red-hot hatred, and this is just about as organic and lively as Death Metal gets when it's at its best. The first demo, Chaos in Hell is a bit more raw sounding and "clicky," whereas the Possessed by Death stuff is a lot heavier, darker and thicker, and I like the latter better. The first song on here isn't that great, but then they put the pedal to the metal and start to chug out killers like "Chaos in Hell," "The Suffering Church" and especially the awesome "Evulsions of the Soul." Diabolic aren't very original, but me, I'd take something as cool and underground sounding as this over another Opeth album any day.

Everything about this just screams 'old school' in big, bright neon lights (coated with blood and gore and skulls), and it put a big ole Metal smile on my face the first time I heard it. Diabolic know exactly how to do it, and I hope they come out with some more material and rip our faces off once again soon. Recommended.

Originally written for http://www.metalcrypt.com

Diabolic have been around since 97, but in all honesty this is the first time I’ve heard them (maybe even the first time I’ve heard of them). It is certainly a nice acquaintance to make. Two EPs have here been re-released on one CD, with a video as a bonus.

Starting off is the "Chaos in hell" (from 2007) EP, and what is evident right from the start is the strong American flavor. It’s just pure American death metal, lingering somewhere in between Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation and Deicide. Very strong musicianship with machinegun drumming, chainsaw guitars and cookiemonster growls. The riffing’s slick, the solo’s quick and the energy high. The tunes are really energetic and it’s virtually impossible not to rock along. Groove is mixed with speed, without compromising the power of either. And that’s the case for the first four tracks.

What sets in afterwards is a much darker and more brutal episode; "Possessed by death" from 2006. Here the sound is a bit murkier, the music a bit chaotic and the growls a tad deeper. Here I even think of Behemoth and Vader. The songs aren’t as interesting and powerful, but in no way near weak. You still get high quality death metal following the American agenda.

I’m glad I got this CD, ‘cause if the rest of their material’s as strong as this I will have found a new band to keep an eye out for. Oh, and I mentioned the bonus video earlier… Hehe, it might just be the most lo-fi metal video I’ve ever seen; not exactly as great as the rest of the record.

Originally written for http://www.mylastchapter.net