“Activating Extinction Protocol” beckoned the monotone vocalisation of the Alpha-fusion Mech Weapon. “Affirmative action, harvest of homosapien corpses initiating” responded espionage drone #6. Alpha-fusion takes flight wielding its antimatter-charged Gatling gun. Before disembarking the sky station fully, the gigantic hovering dozen-limbed cyborg states a final confirmation to its many bloodthirsty mechanical compatriots, “First eradication rendezvous point: Oxford Circus, London…” Such is the manner of the arrival of the debut album from this five-piece Death Metal outfit hailing from the English capital. Mutagenic Host presents us with ‘The Diseased Machine’.
The band had already staged a brief siege of the human world in 2023 with their five-track demo tape. The demo showcased the group as having a penchant for creating songs infested with a mad science-fueled wrath. The band took cues from the likes of British icons Bolt Thrower, whilst blending this approach with their own strain of cognitively unstable chaos. Now that two years have elapsed, Mutagenic Host has finally emerged with the overpowering might of their full invasion-ready fleet. On initial inspection of the album’s cover, I am reminded of the depiction of human extinction at the will of murderous machines on Suffocation’s totemic 1991 classic ‘Effigy of the Forgotten’. Featuring lively production work from Ben Jones, the album sounds like a well-lived-in creative endeavour, the songs are fleshed out and feel like they have been retrieved from the compositional furnace at just the right time. There is a rather obvious sense that the band are reaching for a work of high-brow excellence.
‘Neurological Neurosis’ opens to a droning robotic voice remarking on mankind’s ability to fully realise any of its conceived technological ideas. The classic Death Metal mid-tempo Bolt Thrower worship is revived during this track and is complemented by some grinding and nefarious guitar work. The following track ‘Genestealer’ is an instant roaring pit anthem, with a springy opening riff that transitions into a cataclysmic descending structure as the song progresses. Meanwhile on ‘The Twisted Helix’ the band rotates through various tempo switch-ups and this song features a particularly earwormy chorus. The drums on this cut are noteworthy to me for being particularly hectic and commanding, especially in the song’s exhilarating second half.
The segue track ‘DIRECTIVE:: kill_on_sight’ repeats the themes of mankind’s downfall at the hands of our own technological creations. An effeminate computerised voice narrates poetically about “a burgeoning empire of steel” and “lifeforms praying for me to end their tedious anarchy”. After this vocalisation, the mix becomes quiet, exposing the lonely drone of a tonally descending air-raid siren. The sound of weighty robotic footsteps suddenly grows in volume, followed by a brief alarm and an audible human scream of terror and then… ‘SQUISH’. It’s a truly great and creepy little moment of atmospheric world-building.
The music indulges in further catchy provocation on ‘S.W.A.R.M (Systematic War Against Restless Machines)’ whose order-barking chorus serves as another mosh-inducing behemoth. The closer ‘Rivers of Grief’ begins with a spacey-sounding synthetic drone and the sound of a malfunctioning electronic scramble. The band incorporates a veritable riff fest throughout the purely instrumental song before winding down its final ninety-odd seconds with more synthy ambience.
The Diseased Machine is an admirable debut full-length release from a fairly new and very curious band. I feel like the album may have benefited from a little more variation in vocalist Ash Moore’s growls. I also think that the fairly singular mid-tempo pacing that the whole album inhabits doesn’t quite offer enough to command my attention throughout its entire forty-one minutes. Take these as light and even pedantic critiques however, because this is a fine Death Metal album. Tackling themes revolving around humanity’s complacency towards our own creations is also a great subject to focus on, and Mutagenic Host have clearly committed themselves to delivering upon this central theme…
Wait… WHAT IS THAT?! OH NO, AHHHH, OH GOD NOOOOOOOOO!!!
SQUISH
“This is the Alpha-fusion Mech Weapon, this transmission will close with one final communication. My fleet of espionage drones has successfully executed all Deathcore musicians inhabiting the planet of Earth. MISSION STATUS: accomplished.”
