Disavowed
Perceptive Deception


4.0
excellent

Review

by Jeremy Wolfers USER (123 Reviews)
January 16th, 2014 | 55 replies


Release Date: 2001 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Brutal death that evades most of the genre's pitfalls, Perceptive Deception also happens to be one of the catchiest albums in the sub-genre.

It goes without saying that many bands in the brutal death metal scene are derivative of each other. Increasingly over recent years the sub-genre has often become quite clouded with bands that attempt to emulate the technicality and darker edge of genre-pioneers Suffocation, or, although this is less commonplace now, the similarly influential (although not nearly so good) Devourment. The reasons for that trend could be quite easily traced; even before now, the main brutal death metal bands of the 90s New York Scene were all extremely similar to the pioneering native band themselves, while in recent years a deliberate shift away from the straight slam styles that became popular in the mid 2000s has led to many bands attempting to move towards more technical styles reminiscent of the genre pioneers. Unlike those scenes, the death metal scene in the Netherlands managed to provide a greater level of originality than those areas, helping it to stand out along with the California scene. Heading the scene were Pyaemia and Disavowed. While shot for shot, the two bands' (extremely small) discographies are practically equal, the latter's Perceptive Deception album is nonetheless an excellent contribution to the international scene.

Disavowed's sound is broadly comparable to many of the stereotypes of the genre but thankfully avoids the common issues that lie with them. There are occasionally much slower sections to the band's songs, but almost strangely the band manages to make the typical slamming riffs feel much more energetic, and while there is technicality present in the sound, the main style of riffs for the band are extremely fast tremolo picked riffs that keep the speed up. Overall that's likely the biggest difference that many listeners will find; this album feels faster than most others in the genre, and thus the added energy simply makes it more interesting. The band's riffs are considerably catchier than the genre norm, too, and the pulverizing, tight drum performance undoubtedly gives the band an edge over its competitors.

The album's songs also happen to be very good overall. While most of the songs are similar sounding, the riffs are always distinct from each other in a way which similar bands actually often fail to achieve. Additionally, the subtle differences between each help to keep the album from becoming dull. The slower tracks on the album, such as Reason Rejected and Critical Emulation are still extremely fast and technical, and as such the qualities of the album are prevalent in all of the tracks. There aren't any weak tracks either, and overall the pacing of the album works well.

While it's still unlikely to convert any people into fans of the sub-genre, Perceptive Deception is one of the essential pieces to a brutal death fan's collection. It's fast, furious, and energetic in a way that few other bands have matched. Pick up this along with Pyaemia's Cerebral Cereal if you have literally any interest in brutal-death.



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user ratings (61)
3.7
great

Comments:Add a Comment 
1992
January 16th 2014


160 Comments


Props

Personally I like stagnated existence more, not sure how would agree with me on that one

Madbutcher3
January 16th 2014


3155 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I like it but I prefer this by a fair margin

Anthracks
August 4th 2014


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Love the ways these guys riff. Can't fucking wait any longer for new Disavowed / Arsebreed material.

insanedrexl1
September 28th 2014


1209 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Riffs hard m/

Funeralopolis
October 6th 2014


14586 Comments


cool album

Funeralopolis
October 6th 2014


14586 Comments


vocals are kind of annoying at times tho

Anthracks
October 6th 2014


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

no way man robbe k is a legend

Anthracks
May 22nd 2015


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

some of the best riffs in existence

insanedrexl1
May 22nd 2015


1209 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

^this

brainmelter
Contributing Reviewer
April 2nd 2018


8416 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

reminds me of pyaemia but the vox are actually kind of annoying, I think it’s how they’re cadences/phrased or whatever

Anthracks
April 3rd 2018


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

robbe k is a fucking dope vocalist

combustion07
April 3rd 2018


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Forgot about these guys. Gonna have to jam again

FearTheAggression
January 2nd 2020


289 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Vocals are awesome. So much power and energy.

Anthracks
January 4th 2020


8206 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

still waiting patiently for new material they've been teasing for years

Thalassic
May 29th 2020


5740 Comments


Riffs

combustion07
May 29th 2020


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Didn't know they'd been teasing new material! Hopefully it drops eventually. Would love to hear more from these dudes. Also, riffs indeed. Good bump

Madbutcher3
May 29th 2020


3155 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

they've already posted a track called the enlightened one earlier in may

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmzilU0l7EE

combustion07
May 29th 2020


12822 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Just came back to post it cuz I was stoked when I looked them up! Sounds pretty cool



Edit: loving the bouncy vibe and the bass playing. Album will be killer

Thalassic
May 29th 2020


5740 Comments


Track's great. Robbe sounds a bit different than back in the days, but he still got it.

Madbutcher3
May 29th 2020


3155 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I don't like the Kohler production for it tbh, a little too flat and the guitars aren't that chunky, but track is fine I think



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