An unforgiving mixture of the extremes of grindcore, death metal and metalcore, Despised Icon's debut for Century Media is rich with sadistic aggression as it flagrantly defies conventional song structuring at every turn. With a sound comparable to that of Burnt By The Sun, Premonitions Of War and Dying Fetus, any who dare listen best have their medical insurance paid up in full.
Utilizing a dual vocal assault that sees bestial guttural growls mixed with grating barks, the music offered up here is ruthless in all regards. An unnervingly rigid drumming performance rife with double-kick and talent propels the songs forth while labyrinthine riffing viciously attacks and disorients the listener. Fiercely played, the band have an insatiable lust for time changes and juxtaposition that quickly becomes a major strength and defining quality.
True to their lineage this an album tenaciously bent on aural violence and the band manage to commit a veritable genocide with it thanks to their precise welds of the heaviest of three extreme genres. Far too menacing for the mainstream, this album will appeal only to a niche audience and even then, it can only be digested in small amounts. But for those with strong stomachs who are interested in unwavering brutality and elaborate timing, look no further, as "The Healing Process" is an album sure to require exactly what its title suggests after repeated listens.
(3.5 / 5)
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