Review Summary: yo i herd u like da deedz
Deeds of Flesh need no introduction, well at least they shouldn’t. They are absolute monarchs on the brutal death metal scene and have influenced just about every brutal band, whether directly or indirectly. The main difference between them and their throne mates (Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse) in terms of influence, is that the bands that try to mimic their sound don’t come very close. Then of course there is the fact that both bands presumably influenced Deeds.
Inbreeding the Anthropophagi (ItA) is Deeds of Flesh’s second studio effort, and I’ve found that it’s the most love it or hate it item in their catalog. ItA has the band elaborating on Trading Pieces’ sound while increasing the technicality, but also has them shedding most of the obvious Suffocation influence that was displayed on its predecessor. The structures of the songs are utterly tempestuous. As it stands, this album is unparalleled in terms of chaos within the genre. The riffs change and evolve at a schizophrenic pace and it can be hard to keep up on initial (read: the first twenty) listens. However, this isn't to say that the album is unmemorable.
Erik Lindmark’s riffing isn’t quite as catchy as it would become on later albums, but by no means are the riffs low quality. The riffs, as on any Deeds album, are as good as any riffs can possibly get in brutal death metal; you’re getting the best of the best here. The thing that turns most people off of Deeds, as far as I know, is that Erik usually only confines himself to three separate types of riffs (and maybe because there aren’t any solos…until their latest album), which almost implies that there is no variation in the riffs. I find that each riff is easily discernible, but I suppose it’s a matter of how much you put into the band, though the same can be said for many bands out there.
ItA employs more high vocals than any other Deeds album. When they are used the result is usually an infectious one-liner. These are easily the most memorable parts of the album; which is to say that there is just about no melody to be found here. What this album
will have you doing, is spontaneously bursting out into lines such as: “BRING YOUR CHILDREN, LET ME KILL THEM,” almost characteristic of how they are used in the album. I don’t know of any other album that had the power to make me sing about murdering children, so that alone is noteworthy.
The only negative thing I have to say about the album is that there is only 26 minutes of new material; Gradually Melted was lifted off of Deeds’ first release of the same name. It should be noted that the entire essence of the album is perfectly captured in the 83-second opener
End of All, which would be ideal in gauging interest. ItA has a healthy portion of the better tracks in Deeds’ discography which keeps it at the top of my list, not only within their discography, but within the entire genre.
Highlights
Feeding Time
Infecting Them With Falsehood
Ritual of Battle
