For everything that death metal has proven to be capable of over the decades, it’s only natural to see the genre go through periods where listeners tend to gravitate towards a specific sound as that’s the flavor of the time only for another approach to eventually take its place in time. In recent years, I think it’s safe to say that death metal of the particularly dissonant sort is what has gripped the masses strongly as of late. We’ve seen throngs of bands come out of the woodwork to offer us new visions of that terrifying vein, but few have been as effective as Replicant who now return to us with a split with Elitist that’s as unapologetic in its intensity as it is intoxicating in its madness.
Some bands are just destined for greatness. For years now, Replicant has been on an indisputable rise the likes of which has been damn near impossible to ignore given how potent the ferocity on display constantly is with each release showing us a new side to what this New Jersey quartet can offer. Teaming up with Elitist has proven to make for another effective performance for Replicant with Elitist itself a satisfyingly menacing and complementary act to Replicant’s insanity. “Indomitable Hostility” is nothing if not a brutally honest title for such a split. There isn’t so much as a microsecond of these eight tracks that given you any sliver of reprieve nor mercy as both Replicant and Elitist go out of their way to not just further their own personal brands of eviscerating dissonance but ensure that the listener is left an unrecognizable paste on the wall. Experimenting with their sound and offering a flavorful cover of Cocteau Twins, Replicant’s unyielding first half levels the playing field in truly apocalyptic fashion to then allow Elitist to swallow reality itself with their voracious blend that is as in your face as it is devilishly effective at drawing the listener in before devouring all that comes before them.
Separate, both of these acts are forces not to be underestimated in the slight. Together, though? They make for a singularly compelling performance that distills much of what has made death metal of this sort so captivating with the very whole of “Indomitable Hostility” nothing but a masterful showcasing of all that this sound can achieve when crafted by the right hands.
“Indomitable Hostility” releases on November 20th via Transcending Obscurity Records!
LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Indomitable Hostility” on Bandcamp here.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOdOsAQpmi0