Devourment needs no introduction. One of the most if not the most known slam band to ever exist (though not the first to play in this style). For over 28 years these guys have proven time and time again why they are the kings of this genre. They took the sound of Repudilation, early Internal Bleeding, and Dying Fetus, and upped it to the fucking max. With every single release from this band, you know exactly what you're getting into. This demo immediately showcases what the band is about. Released in 1997, all 3 of these tracks would later appear on their legendary magnum opus Molesting the Decapitated. These older versions are harsher and raw, and they're just as good as their 1999 counterparts.
I want to talk about the drum performance first. Behind the kit is the only original member left in the band in present times, Brad Fincher, who was previously in Necrocide before Devourment, immediately showcasing why his drumming is iconic in the genre, characterized by frantic blast beats and fills, stomping double bass, and his classic one-snare “rolls” or hits as I use to call them, which would be used and imitated by many slam bands in the future. This relentless drum performance is backed up by the crushing guitar performance. The chuggy palm-muted grooves, tremolos, and simplistic yet very potent rhythm patterns are littered throughout this demo.
And of course, there’s the legendary vocalist Wayne Knupp (RIP). While he performed vocals on a few actual studio recordings with the band, those became some of their most iconic material. His vocals are incredible. Some of the most guttural vocals ever committed to tape. And to top it all off, the raw production makes this thing sound monstrous, especially during the slams and breakdowns. My favorite song is definitely “Shroud of Encryption”. A 3min blasting bulldozer. It doesn’t let up except for the breakdown/slam sections, especially the first one around the 1:03 minute mark, which is one of the heaviest, most enraged breakdowns I’ve ever heard in my life, and it still is to this day.
After this demo, the band would begin working on the debut full-length Molesting the Decapitated. Wayne would exit for a short period, leading to Ruben Rosas coming into the picture, making the band sound even better. If you haven’t heard this before for some reason, and you love brutal death metal, LISTEN TO IT!
Devourment are known only too well to even the most casual brutal death metal listeners. Their initial releases, Molesting the Decapitated and Butcher the Weak, have gone down in underground history as the definitions of brutal death metal and slam, and appropriately so. Devourment are characterized by inhuman guttural vocals, gravity blasted tin-can snares, and bone-shattering guitars composed of slow slams and ruthless grinds. Before their groundbreaking Molesting the Decapitated, there was Impaled, their very first demo. Consisting of but three tracks, Devourment’s demo album presented an insane and sickening new form of death metal that would change the underground forever.
The first of the three tracks, “Choking on Bile”, is still a classic song, and justly so. “Choking on Bile” begins with a signature deathgrind intro, consisting of an obscure, distorted, and down tuned tremolo passage accompanied by savage gravity blasting and gurgling guttural utterances. The song quickly slows to a devastatingly brutal slam, characterized by slow and heavily rhythmic riffing utilizing palm muted power chords and chromatic intervals. These parts are dominant throughout the record, and, while simplistic, are pure genius. Devourment were not the first to use these breakdowns, however, as they can be traced back to Effigy of the Forgotten-era Suffocation, but they are used in a completely new way, not just a small part of the songwriting but a staple. In between these slams, Devourment play Disgorge-esque grinds that are indecipherable but still invoke pure rage. The guttural growling of the legendary Wayne Knupp (RIP) is equally as groundbreaking as the use of slams throughout. These unique vocals do not sound akin to anything remotely human, and perfectly reflect the sick and twisted ghouls whose perspectives are adopted in the lyrics. Speaking of the lyrics, Devourment are known for their particularly gory and disgusting lyrics. While this has been mimicked by countless bands ad nauseam, only Devourment make lyrics that are actually entertaining, have some sort of morbid story, and really fit the progression of the song, particularly in “Choking on Bile”, which describes a trip to the morgue for a fatal feast on the dead.
The demo continues with “Shrouded in Encryption”, another monstrous morsel. This song is somewhat more balanced, in that it does not grind or slam too much but largely stays in a state in between for most of the song. The rhythmic quality of Wayne Knupp’s vocals are emphasized significantly in this song, offering a greater set of rhythmic layering throughout the track, considering the heavily rhythmic guitars that back up the vocals, though with a slightly different rhythmic pattern. The way the vocal patterns are organized and integrated into the song take it to a whole new level and add much more to the ghastly energy.
The final track, “Festering Vomitous Mass”, is brief, brutal, and vicious. This song in particular emphasizes the grinding guitars and constant blast beat drumming, though it is evident that the drumming blasts have yet to be perfected. It is a good way to end the demo, giving the listener the final bludgeoning deathblows, and then a little extra just to make it a little more of a mess. The demo has decent production throughout, not perfect, but it’s a brutal death metal demo, no one expects much in that regard anyway. The guitars still sound very good, though at times become a jagged blur during some of the breakneck speed areas. Nonetheless, the demo as a whole is well written and brutal beyond belief. This is the epitome of brutal slam death metal at its very inception. While the drums are not quite perfect, the band has put together a strong foundation on which they will make death metal history. Impaled is well worth a listen for those who are interested in getting their dose of pure slamming brutality.
Oh, and as a side note Mike Majewski’s artwork on this demo is amazing as always, love it.
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