UNDEATH - More Insane (Review)

Written by: Blackie Skulless 

As I’ve noted when discussing the band’s previous output, New York’s Undeath are an outfit that have been with me since their earliest demo in 2019. Over time, they would grow into quite a significant spectacle in the scene, dropping another demo and two full-length records since. The quintet has always emphasized the brutal and unforgiving sides of the death metal genre, made extra filthy early on, and cleaned up the surface slightly with each subsequent release. The latest outing More Insane continues this trend, making the most significant jump between albums in that regard.

Since Lesions Of A Different Kind, Undeath have made it known that they also prefer a slightly more intricate variation under those grueling and marshy riffswamps. This has always helped the band stand out, and with a newer production style, we get a higher emphasis on unorthodox leads. In fact, I would say that More Insane now lets the band reach “technical” death metal territory, as even the rhythms focus heavier on this approach. From time to time, the burning hot riffage will pair with, and even trade-off with the bass guitar, allowing both to take the forefront, which is highlighted nicely on the title track. Frontman Alexander Jones also tampers with vastly different vocal approaches. We still get a healthy serving of the deeper gutturals that the band are known for, but this time around an experiment with higher shrieks and throatier lows is extremely present. I would even argue that they take precedence over what we’re familiar with, fitting the vibe of the technical songwriting and cleaner atmosphere.

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Squeezing all of these dynamic changes into a still compact and brief listen is nothing short of impressive, however, I would be lying if I said I didn’t struggle at times. “Cramped Caskets” is absolutely punishing and lands a strong punch, but the vocals dominate too much of this. Blastbeats and unrelenting attacks behind the kit with throatier vocals can also distract from the music, the easiest example being “Sutured For War.” The bridge on this is my favorite part, as I can still clearly get a taste of the strong foundation. I guess the easiest way to put it is that things feel overwhelming sometimes, and the cleanliness with the newer variations somewhat takes away from what I loved about the band initially.
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Much of this is listener’s preference, because I really cannot deny how nicely some of these songs flow, and how beautifully thought out they are. I already mentioned the impressive basslines in the title track, but I also love the swift execution meeting compelling songwriting in “Brandish The Blade.” “Disattachment Of A Prophylactic In The Brain” is probably my favorite tune because of how catchy the leads are in the intro, as well as how they’re worked into the solo. Weirdly, it almost feels melodic at times. I just can’t emphasize enough how all over the place things get, even in the songs I liked a lot. They still know how to use repetition to their advantage, at least.

But I can’t really knock Undeath for these changes, as doing the same formula over and over again is a gateway to stagnation. More Insane would very much benefit from streamlining some of these new techniques a little more concisely, as well as laying off the production just enough so that things don’t feel like they’re competing for the spotlight. In terms of songwriting, however, they’ve absolutely still got it, and the playing itself is stellar. Some of these things boil down to personal preference, and I would recommend death metal fans seek this out, especially if you fancy the technical flavors.

Undeath - More Insane was released Oct. 4th, 2024 via Prosthetic Records. Find it here!

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Undeath can be found:
Bandcamp
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