I’ve always found solace in the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. It applies to everything and metal is often subject to it as there are many, many times where some bands will try to innovate upon a formula that’s been practically perfected for years and years just for the sake of being different, only to fail miserably. Fortunately, the very underground of metal is always rife with talent that’s able to take the old, and sometimes even the modern, to make into something worth listening. You simply need to know where to look, and it’s with Phobophilic that anyone should immediately see the excellence as soon as this demo starts chugging.

It’s the potentially harsh lands of North Dakota from which I’ve only seen one vicious act of note come from in the form of Frosthelm, but now that number has ticked up one with Phobophilic providing us a scathing heap of death metal that’s equal parts old and new that’s perfectly fitting for their home’s unforgiving living conditions. And it’s no surprise that first impressions are everything when you’re a band this small that’s just starting out with a demo like this. But to say that Phobophilic fucking delivered with “Undimensioned Identities” would be just the start of the grand onslaught of underground filth that this quartet serves up in earnest. There are but four tracks with which Phobophilic wields throughout the entirety of this humble but voracious demo and they couldn’t be any more potent as you can just feel the very grime of the underground of death metal that Phobophilic has risen from infecting every single note to make it such a display that’s virtually irresistible. They are, admittedly, a tad monotone and could all be merged into one continuous track and I wouldn’t have noticed. But it’s the power and nastiness of it all that makes “Undimensioned Identities” stand out as it’s done well and not just done for the sake of being heavy but rather to provide an experience that can only be seen as uncompromising in its most unforgiving moments.

It’s a harsh listen that we’ve heard before in the past, but Phobophilic manages to still make it fun and punishing to listen to, and I’ve no question whatsoever that these guys will definitely be able to expand upon their sound in future releases. You can feel it underneath the skin of the pale skeleton that “Undimensioned Identites” controls in a strangely seductive manner, and with the many bands that come crawling out of the underground to deliver unforgivable listens Phobophilic has proven with this demo that they’re clearly one such act.

“Undimensioned Identities” releases on September 13th via Rotted Life and Blood Harvest!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Undimensioned Identities” on Bandcamp here.