Evilness and Darkness Prevails

Shub Niggurath, the band with the name from the mind of the twisted short-story writer H.P. Lovecraft, comes forth with their first released full length, though quick enough to be considered an EP. This output reminds me of Morbid Angel's 'Altars' and 'Blessed' period for some comparison. That form of thicker death metal that would utilize each faction to a heavy inducing degree. And also some of the cymbal start-ups, and a shred of the vocals are an unmistakable feature. But then again deserving and still different in their own right...sorry rite.

The production on 'E & D' is actually pretty decent in comparison to their earlier releases where the content was respectively heavy and evil but the recordings weren't as loud or mixed as consistently. The loudest instruments on this depraved release would have to be the vocals and the drums, and the guitars are slightly lower if still thick, but most importantly not at all hidden.

What really works for Shub Niggurath is the pace changes quite frequently during the evolving time span, even if the overall length of the recording is somewhat short. Mainly switching back and forth between pumping mid-paced sections and blast beats, but there are a few slower parts included to the blend as well. The drummer is actually all over his set, not because he went over his tequila limit, but because he feels it necessary to add a variety of tightly played fills per measure to potentially unstabilize where you'll think he'll go next. He mainly shows his skill in mid-paced sections and during breaks. His fills range from multiple snare and tom hits and rolls, to quick double bass, full tom rolls, ride patterned stick hits, and to various cymbal hits in between all of the madness. And I have to say he does manage to keep the music together with his varied arsenal of drumming. The guitars help with this catastrophic anomaly by including multiple styles to the spicy mix as well. For the most part they are palm mute driven, and in between these palm mutes he includes power chords and a fair amount of high single note hits without sounding melodic. The vocals are the prow of the ship, they are the main driving force behind all of the riffs and pounding drums. He uses a style that is similar to a quick growled roar, with extensions at the end of sentences and plenty of "ewww"s to start an elevating riff, giving it that much more elasticity.

Overall, this is a thick and dark sounding death metal release with a slight touch of underlying black ideology. The strength of the band relies on its interchangeable guitars, drums and vocal deliveries. Shub does switch it up, though I have to honestly say it doesn't have loads of moments that stick with you after it is over and done with. Don't get me wrong, there are catchy parts that pop up and I can listen to this album in abundance, though I feel this would have benefitted them with more qualities if it had more emphasis on expanding on some hooks. It is an album that you can count on it for bringing material to the table that is drenched with heaviness. Yet I think the band would capitalize on more encompassing ideas with their second full length. So for their career trajectory as it is, 'The Kinglike Celebration' is their musical climax. Essentially taking what's presented here and adding more curving and latching ability that is a sonic pummel to your brain. My other small complaint on 'E & D' is that at least two of his cymbals were recorded far too close to the microphones, either that or they were later recorded then cut and pasted in, it's hard to tell. It is something that is quite unusual, and I can't say I've heard cymbals that way before, where the particular sound is kind of abrupt. In ritualistic closing, I recommend 'Evilness & Darkness Prevails' for an onslaught of demolishing, at-the-peak of the mid-'90s extreme metal that needs your grubby hands all over it.