What’s these? You mean to tell me there’s more to Greek death metal than Dead Congregation? Of course I’m being sarcastic, but from the way those up on all things hip and trendy in the metal underground talk, you’d be under the impression DC was the country’s sole death metal export. Don’t get me wrong, I dig their two studio full lengths too. However, there are other bands in this scene dying to be heard, such as Ectoplasma.
By way of comparison, in the time that has passed since DC’s last album, Ectoplasma have released four albums, four splits, a couple EPs, and a demo. Talk about being productive! Their latest album, Inferna Kabbalah, is a no nonsense death metal assault. It touches on the various facets that made the early 90s scene so special, but manages to throw in a fair share of curveballs as well. You know, the types of curveballs that make you wonder, “Should this really be here?” and “Does this work?” And before you can even answer, it’s on to the next musical bludgeoning.
Upon listening to Inferna Kabbalah, Ectoplasma comes off closest in style and spirit to Immolation, specifically circa Dawn of Possession (1991). This is evident on cuts like the unholy “God is Dead, Satan Lives (Rosemary’s Baby)”, the infernal “Gruesome Sacred Orgasms”, and the demented insanity of “Filth-Ridden Flesh”. Everything from the riffs to the attitude sound derived from the Yonkers based death metal legends, with touches of Deicide and Benediction throughout. At many points, the band throws in a healthy dose of thrashisms, ranging from pulverizing machine gun riffing to ignorant mosh riffs (see “Infestation of Atrocious Hunger”), but don’t be fooled. This is a death metal release through and through.
At this point in the review (assuming you’ve made it this far), you’re probably wondering, “Where are these curveballs you spoke off in the second paragraph? Surely you can’t be referring to the intermarriage of death with thrash and/or doom that so frequently occurs today.” And you’d be right. I’m not. I’m referring to the incorporation of metalcore inspired breakdowns (“My Medieval Urges Materialized”, “Desecration of the Christian Existence”) and At the Gates inspired melo death passages (“Infestation of Atrocious Hunger”). Neither are deal breakers for me. It’s just odd to hear early 90s OSDM worship colliding with worlds more associated with the middle and latter half of the decade.
If you’re not full blown purist, you’ll find that Ectoplasma offers a unique and exciting spin to classic death metal. Sure, there’s nothing life changing about Inferna Kabbalah, but that’s all fine and good by me. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an album that’s straightforward and no frills, especially when said album is part of a genre that stopped being “revolutionary” roughly 25 years ago. Ectoplasma doesn’t reinvent the wheel. They keep it spinning…fast. If you want death, you got it!
6 out of 10
Label: Memento Mori
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Immolation, Deicide, At the Gates