Deep from the depths of metallic stagnation comes a rapid fire record I would have swiftly passed over if not for catching Heriot's energetic live performance. Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell also received some critical acclaim, convincing me to give it a proper go. I'm left convinced the Metal scene is lacking fresh innovation, as the genre matures into its sixth or so generation of existence, where does it venture next?
Described by Blabbermouth as "post-everything", one can hear a slew of subgenre ideals getting picked apart, then reassembled in this beastly collection of spiteful aggressive slogs. Focused on a mood of rage and tone of dread, its often a lurching background synth or atmospheric guitar distortion that glues together a songs identity. In barrels rumbling barrages of barbaric sound, dense with roaring bass but often devoid of much beyond amassing a terrifying textured vehicle of assault.
Thus its ten tracks aimlessly roam a desolate wasteland of destruction, sporadically lashing out in any available direction. Conceptually, it does sounds brilliant but in experience, most its songs lack a true musicality to latch onto. The dialed back, sullen Ethereal gloom of Opaline packs a genuine punch but its one cut from the many. The so called "post-everything" feels like a intentional choice to skirt prior conventions in search of something new. Only in brief glimpses does this search connect.
Rating: 4/10