Album Review: Despised Icon – Purgatory

Although most rightfully credit slam-masters Suffocation with kicking off deathcore, Despised Icon seemingly haven't always received their proper due for helping shape the subgenre. 

The Canucks have been somewhat an anomaly within the scene, focused on writing actual songs, not merely seeking to out-brutalise the competition. That said, they continue to be capable of hanging with any of their contemporaries in terms of brutality, this album among their heaviest fare yet. They returned from hiatus in 2014, with many of their mid-'00s MySpace peers defunct, and exuded renewed vigour on 2016's pulverising Beast. The follow-up continues the momentum; there's few genuinely new ideas, but the end result seethes with intent and purpose.

Grooves wider than the Grand Canyon a la Obituary and Dying Fetus bolster the material, and a smidgin more melody in the mix as well as a greater emphasis on guitar solos spice up proceedings. A two-pronged vocal attack bridges the mid-range grunts, guttural lows and the much-heralded but divisive pig squeals, ensuring there's enough variety to keep things fresh over 36 minutes. Among the standout cuts here are the crushing title track and the groove-laden Snake In The Grass, which recalls 2007's sonic gut-punch, The Ills Of Modern Man. Meanwhile, Light Speed fuses frenetic blasts with a lurching breakdown that will ensure limbs flail and beers are spilled on a nightly basis.

In a year that's already featured some quality modern death-metal outings (Fit For An Autopsy, Disentomb, Thy Art Is Murder), here's another blistering collection.