Usually when we talk about Finnish Death Metal we are talking about quality. And here we have it: Malformed from Helsinki, Finland release their debut full-length album to the world titled ‘Confinement Of Flesh’ in collaboration with the cult label Dark Descent Records.
The band was formed in 2022 and released the demo ‘Uncontrollable Deformity’ in the same year, a live album in 2023 and an EP in 2023 called ‘The Gathering Of Souls’. So the time for unleashing the debut full-length record to the Death Metal hordes has finally come.
Jani Seppi (drums), Akseli Lindroos (guitars) and Eetu Hyvönnen (guitars/vocals) offer nine tracks of pure oldschool Death Metal with melodic and technical edge. The beginning is set by ‘Within The Flesh’ where you can see remarkable guitar riffs, melodic leads, various drum patterns and the deadly growls of Eetu Hyvonnen. What is obvious is that the three guys in Malformed show some impressive skills on their instruments. I would say that Morbid Angel is one of their main sources of inspiration mixed with some oldschool Suffocation (the vocals remind me at times of Frank Mullen, Suffocation’s legendary frontman). ‘Confinement Of Terror’ follows with a straightforward galloping rhythm that changes into blastbeat frenzy, a track that can break your neck from headbanging. Some great guitar leads here again. ‘Obscure Wails From Beyond’ is more Thrashy, it even has some choruses meant to be shouted by the audience at concerts.
‘Abnormal Eulogy’ offers some very good bass lines and some great guitar riffs and leads. ‘Eyes Torn Out’ is pure Cannibal Corpse worship followed by ‘Depredate The Divine’ which starts with the famous quote from ‘The Exorcist’, ‘Let Jesus F…U’ and offers low guttural vocals combined with ultra speed. ‘Return Of The Plague’ is more into the mid-tempo realms with heavy yet groovy guitar playing and interesting melodic patterns while the following ‘Shattered Illusion’ combines slow passages with blasting drumming and galloping tempos. The end of the album comes with ‘The Incoming Rapture’ which is a fast aggressive track where the bass comes up in the mix and creates a pleasantly raging mood.
Malformed’s debut album ‘Confinement Of Flesh’ is an impressive and pretty enjoyable work. Obviously those guys have tons of talent and know how to create a strong Death Metal record. Time will show how far they can go but for now take your delight in this piece of first class Death music.
