Amidst the Death Metal explosion of the early 90s, while not one of the most prominent scenes, Austria managed to put itself on the map with a small cohort of bands such as Pungent Stench, Disharmonic Orchestra or Miasma among others. In a similar fashion, Fessus has sprung out from what feels like a musty crypt to continue the tradition in the form of sick, twisted Death Metal.
My first exposure to Fessus was through their excellent live performance at KillTown Deathfest London and listening to their excellent demo ‘Pilgrims of Modernity’. The band understand how to hook us with their brand of rotten, trudging Death Metal. If you’re expecting breakneck speeds and endless streams of blastbeats, this is not the record for you. Instead, what you will get is a collection of mid-paced songs and with occasional sprinkles of furious blasts. The difficulty in composing Death Metal like this is that it can often meander endlessly without much going on. Fessus avoid this mishap cleverly through their catchy grooves and ability to shift gears at just the right moment to avoid excessive repetition.
This rhythmic component is accompanied by a thick and audible bass that help give the album that delectable groove we often see in this slower form of the genre. The drummer knows perfectly when to turn up the tempo or bring it to a crawling halt with his menacing cymbal hits, adding to the already deadly atmosphere the album emits. The vocalist Brandon is reminiscent of Necrophagia’s Killjoy, largely using a low growl but willing to experiment with more deranged screams such as the ones seen on ‘Asphyxiate in Exile’. His guitar work is similarly noteworthy, bringing in some of the weirder and experimental elements of his other band Molten Chains into the fray. This is most notable with the solo work, giving tracks like ‘Cries from the Ether’ or ‘Yizkor’ an almost psychedelic feeling with the morbid melodies on display. The willingness to think outside the box helps create this uncanny nightmarish darkness that follows you throughout the course of the record.
‘Subcutaneous Tomb’ clocks in at just 35 minutes, but spares none of it. While Death Metal is often celebrated for its speed and rush, Fessus reminds us that slowing down and focusing on hooks does not sacrifice any of the intensity. If you want something that revels in filth and is putrid to its core, this is for you.
