DEFILED
"Ugliness
Revealed" (Necropolis/Deathvomit/Baphomet; 2001)
Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter
Defiled are an extreme death metal band from Japan. It's odd that in
nearly two-and-a-half years of doing the Rough Edge gig I'd yet to hear any metal band from Japan. And then, in
just one week, I got the chance to hear two Japanese metal bands - death metal grinders Defiled and doom
masters Church Of Misery. The land of the rising sun is giving way to a new kind of rising extremity in death
metal.
Defiled's "Ugliness Revealed" is an unexpected combination of raw brutality and precision
arrangements. It's as if a technical band like The Dillinger Escape Plan took their jagged riffing style
into a more organic realm without resorting to a chaotic mess to get their music
across. A metronome was definitely not used during the recording of "Ugliness Revealed" and I seriously
doubt there is any computer program that could be written to match the percussive changes that
Defiled bring to the forefront. Cookie-cutter death metal this is not.
"Ugliness Revealed" has a sound neutered by its own lack of melody - but that's a good thing if you
like death metal and even better if you like death metal with a twist. "Ugliness Revealed" has an
organic undercurrent that separates itself from the pack. Ten songs are interspersed with quick and
noisy soundscapes that serve as brief respites throughout the death metal madness.
"Ugliness Revealed" moves quickly and effortlessly despite the myriad of time-signature changes.
For more information visit http://www.necropolisrecords.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2001 by R. Scott Bolton. All rights reserved.
