Review Summary: Another worthwhile offering from the Finnish death metal scene that lives up to Stench Of Decay's previous releases in many ways, but also falls short in some
Visions Beyond Death is exactly the kind of EP that fans of
Where Death And Decay Reign will enjoy: it is more or less unchanged. That is to say, I don’t think there were any listeners out there who wanted Finland’s Stench of Decay to change their ways, let alone expected them to.
Visions Beyond Death follows in the same footsteps as their previous demos, scooping a heavy portion of death metal into the snapping jaws of its hungry followers; the murky songwriting equaling that of its predecessor in terms of style but not quite in quality. The riffs of songs like “Creation of Carnal Lust” aren’t around in such a memorable form, but the guitar work present here still rings true to what Stench of Decay are aiming for with their savage and heavy cuts that shift like dunes in a high wind, with the vocals latched on to ride their pace.
A universally solid showing from the drums is something that was present on
Where Death And Decay Reign, and is back on
Visions Beyond Death, albeit rather oppressed by the more muffled production placed on not only them, but the entire band as a whole. The crunch of the guitars found on their self-titled demo is instead replaced by a muddier, but still wholly audible production that unfortunately isn’t so kind to the bass, which isn’t as prominent and distinguished as in the past. It’s unable to be the presence it was on
Where Death And Decay Reign, instead being clearly there but smeared together with the low-end of the guitars and unable to create its own bite. Also, the pace of the album isn’t quite as frantic as that of songs like “Stench Of Decay” from their first demo, but is instead on line with
Where Death And Decay Reign, with both tracks taking a more relaxed pace that features spurts of chaos, rather than dealing with that pace for the duration.
Due in part to its brief 11-minute length,
Visions Beyond Death doesn’t branch much from what those familiar with the band have already heard; not that it should have in the first place. The vocals are the same deep growl, the atmosphere just as crushing. It’s a great Finnish death metal band playing great Finnish death metal; just another reason why you should continue to give the scene your undivided attention, because there’s no question that it deserves it.
