Fatalist - The Depths of Inhumanity

January 8, 2010

Reviewer: Chris

Fatalist is described on its MySpace page as being a throwback to the “Stockholm, not Gothenburg” Sweden sound, citing Grave, Entombed and Dismember among its influences. I’d say that after hearing the first full-length offering, The Depths of Inhumanity, I’m inclined to heartily agree.

And they’re from Ventura, California!

Ventura is the overall picture of skateboarding, the beach, the band America singing about its highway back in the 70s, and all sorts of so-called non-metal activities. Can you see the classic death metal sound emerging from there? Well, it has and it’s very good to boot! The classic pieces are here, from the low, crunching riffing that’s heavy enough to shatter arterial walls inside the brain to the vocals straight from Entombed or Nihilist’s casebook. It amazes me more and more the level of U.S. bands being able to successfully compete with our overseas counterparts. After all, death metal got its roots right here in our playground, with Florida producing the most affluent assemblage of bands that can lay claim to being the founders. It should be fitting that homegrown death metal is ours to conquer, keeping the lineage strong. Sure, the Swedes took it to levels that are recognized today as some of the finest metal music offered, there’s no denying this. But take some local boys with American surroundings and upbringings, give them some influence and some instruments, with just a touch of rage and acumen - here’s the new-classic sound! Maybe the “Americholm” sound?

Formed in 2006, Fatalist takes all of the topical negativity associated with death metal and creates a near 45-minute classic that I can’t recommend any more highly! Vocalist/Guitarist Neil Burkdoll does nothing over-the-top, yet maintains a strong, brutal vocal assault over carefully-manicured tunes that can easily make this band one of America’s prized exports should they get the treatment they deserve. The Depths of Inhumanity is the band’s 7-song demo, Loss, that was released (and quickly sold out) in ’07, plus four new tracks. This is the sound that few American bands have the tenacity to try and find, but thankfully Fatalist has found it and applied it accordingly. 

I rarely give five stars to anything, and while this not quite a masterpiece it’s a massive compliment to the genre. It can’t come any closer except to surpass Death’s Scream Bloody Gore, which has yet to be done. Songs like “Morbid Derangement” definitely have an Obituary feel to them, while other tracks of particular note are “Frozen Epitaph,” and “Death Will Remain,” though I implore you to find this CD and grab it! It’s a band like this that gives me hope for the future of heavy metal music that can’t possibly be tainted.

Put away the Bermuda shorts and tanning oil - death metal has emerged, ugly, brutal, and deformed, from the Hellish depths of…Ventura, California.

Who’d have thought it?

Release Date: November 23, 2009  
Label: Ibex Moon Records

TRACK LISTING

1.  Frozen Epitaph
2. Internal Misery
3.  Morbid Derangement
4.  Contamination
5.  Death Will Remain
6.  Homicidal Epitaph
7.  Impule to Kill
8.  Life Deploration
9.  Enthralled by Pain
10.  The Depths of Inhumanity
11.  Intro/Rivers of Blood

Total playing time: 44:16

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