Wax

While some will claim (I have friends who’ve done so) that metal is as brutal as it can possibly become, and that music as a whole can hardly develop any further, I have to say I’m absolutely certain that’s not the case. I’m sure that metal and most of its subgenres will evolve into beasts unheard of today, but common tomorrow. A few acts really dwell in the progressive state, trying hard to achieve a sound of their own. It’s easy to go for a safemode and sound like thousands of other acts, but to really become a name to be reckoned with progression is often the key. These Siberian lads have chosen progression instead of sticking to what’s safe and already established. If they succeed or not is what you as a listener is tasked to judge. Well, and I as a reviewer, as well.

There really is no telling what will come around the next corner, seeing as how the song structures are fairly unconventional at times. But the riffing is really where the progression takes the forefront. Quite unorthodox riffing for death metal, and often not even of a death metal variant per se, but brutalized to fit into the concept. They throw in several weird melodic leads to complement the otherwise conventional melodies. Defect Designer linger somewhere in between melody and brutality, but never venturing too far to either side of the matter. Genre wise they take on some more mathcore-ish stuff on occasion, and a hardcore influence seems to shine through. thankfully they never go for a metalcore style, though. Straightforward American sounding death metal gets mixed with jazzy structures, highly unconventional drum patterns and some plainly weird riffing, but they bring it all together to complete their sound. It’s technical and intricate at times, and very interesting when paying close attention.

And that’s a flaw, I think. At first I didn’t really care for the album, and just thought of it as another decent death metal album, but nothing more. It really takes a close listen and attention to discover why Defect Designer is an interesting act. The frenzy and ferociousness is never really blatantly obvious, and I think they could really benefit from more rapid tempo changes. For now it’s mostly rather slow to mid tempo, which would go nicely along with more aggression in the ways of unrelenting onslaughts of blasting. I think it’s only in Choice cuts they actually blast for real, and hence it’s one of the more brutal songs on the album. Vocally I’m afraid I have to say it’s rather bland for the most time. He has a strong voice, but it’s almost exclusively mid-range growling. During Defamation he goes for a high-strung, high-end squeal that sounds as to almost break out of key, and the desperation is instantly in your face. More variation in the vocal department would also make it a more interesting end-result. The lads certainly have potential, but it needs just a little more flair to really kick you in the nads and make you their bitch.

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