When we premiered Diabolizer's "Process the Void" on Transcending Obscurity, I had one word to share with with Chris Dahlberg: "Wretched." The blackened death metal band from Turkey consists of members of Decaying Purity, Engulfed, Deggial and Godslaying Hellblast. The new album, Apokalypse, will release this Friday via the unholy Third Eye Temple. With so many releases clogging up every inch of my inbox, it is hard to pick and choose who gets the spotlight, but after hearing that opening track, I knew it was worth giving these guys more attention.
Diabolizer's sound is utterly explosive and dripping with black metal influence despite the deep growls. As the depraved, layered vocals reign terror and hellfire from above, the sharp blades of rapid tremolo stab at thee from below. There's a bit of Vader to the sound, but presented in a decisively more raw package; like Litany was left out in the sun too long and started to rot. At the same time, others might liken Apokalypse to certain brutal death releases like Fleshgore, Gloom, or perhaps even Abnormality.
To that note, there is a similar technical element to this album as well. It's not mind-bendingly mathy or an example of pristine tech death, but the musicianship is on point nonetheless. The drumming is relentless. From blastbeats to inhuman double-bass kicking, this guy is a monster. I sometimes find myself wishing the production better emphasize the live, organic nature of the performance, but it's a minor complaint. These qualities are picked up on in the maniacal guitar picking, always racing to match the drummer's pace. It sounds like rebellious, young demons taking a joyride in Beelzebub's hot rod.
Definitely a few highlights to start with on this one. There is of course the aforementioned "Process the Void," but "Condemn to Burn in Hell" and "Hammer of Diabolizaton" are perhaps equally horrific in their brutality. In any case, there are no duds here, and at a thrashy 30 or so minutes it's an easy sell for a listen. If you don't have even that kind of time, I'm not sure what you're doing here. The rest of us are going to enjoy the raging fires of Diabolizer until we go deaf...which probably won't be long. Totally worth it. Pick it up HERE.