apanthropy

Severe Torture
Feasting on Blood
Hammerheart Records
Released: 10/9/2000
Version Reviewed: 12″ LP, Clear/Blood Splatter, 2022 Limited Edition Reissue

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A1 – Feces for Jesus
A2 – Blood
A3 – Decomposing Bitch
A4 – Baptized in Virginal Liquid
A5 – Twist the Cross
B1 – Butchery of the Soul
B2 – Rest in Flames
B3 – Severe Torture
B4 – Pray for Nothing
B5 – Vomiting Christ
–

Post-1990s death metal in itself has a difficult time holding the actual moniker of ‘death metal,’ as it usually contains only few trace elements of the original genre, opting instead for mutt genetics. The further the listener travels from the genre’s point of inception and the lauded ‘golden age,’ the more prevalent this concept becomes.

However, on the rare occasion, there were full lengths that were released onto the post-90s market that were competent demonstrations of powerful crushing art, standards for both bands and national scenes, and brilliant portrayals of filth that suffocated listeners under a constantly grinding maelstrom of perverted fury that death can and always should do.

Severe Torture’s 2000 debut, ‘Feasting on Blood,’ is one such occasion.

Opening on pounding downbeats, ‘Feces for Jesus’ quickly evolves into chromatic single-octave riffcraft above searing blastbeats, morphing into roiling double bass fury before coming to a violent breakdown – an actual breakdown, not some nancyboy modern hardcore garbage.

‘Blood’ smashes right out of the gate with blasting fury and never lets up and it’s also the first time the listener gets a clear taste of the bass work provided by Patrick Boleij.

‘Decomposing Bitch’ and ‘Baptized in Virginal Liquid’ are two great examples highlighting the power of the rhythm section driving Severe Torture – the previously mentioned bass player Patrick Boleij and drummer Seth van de Loo. Musician or not, one must consider the physical requirements for this style of music, this is no easy feat.

‘Twist the Cross’ closes Side A of the record and only serves more of the same. At this point, the case is made. Fucking violent music. Tightly packed chromatically repetitious riffs atop lightning fast blastbeats, songs devoid of melody and excess harmonization, no guitar solos, no structural gimmicks and no vocal smoke and mirrors. Pure death metal.

Side B is, in essence, no different than Side A and there’s no point in trying to come up with some clever way to ad lib descriptions for the individual songs. The formula repeats over and over for each individual track. There is, in a very literal sense, no deviation whatsoever.

Production on ‘Feasting on Blood‘ is largely clear, full, punch and pushed to the red, a saturated audio spectrum.

One looking for an experience akin to something in the realm of Obituary, Asphyx, or Bolt Thrower, you won’t find it here. ‘Butchered at Birth‘ or ‘Tomb of the Mutilated‘-era Cannibal Corpse, early Suffocation, and early Deicide, yes, absolutely, this is for you.

One could criticize the record by calling it too repetitious and criticism would perhaps hold validity if certain factors were present; overly long songs, excess running length, bad production, poor songwriting…however, those factors simply are not present. ‘Feasting on Blood‘ barely breaks the half hour mark and only two tracks break the four-minute mark. The songwriting and execution are top notch for its time period and even for 2023, still remains in the upper ranks for a death metal release.

Label: Hammerheart Records
Band: Severe Torture

-AJK