Humiliation - Dawn of Warfare

July 21, 2010

Reviewer: Jesse

And just like that, Humiliation’s debut full-length is done and is sitting in front of me.  It was only a few weeks ago that I was even introduced to them in the form of their EP, Face the Disaster where I could not wait to hear more.  I love not having to wait, especially when the result is something this awesome.

Humiliation’s Dawn of Warfare is picking up the baton that Bolt Thrower so unceremoniously left for someone to find.  Chugging, heavy-as-hell riffs marching through at mid-tempo accompanied by double bass drums pounding the ground into submission accurately describes this album.  It’s flat-out eerie how similar to Bolt Thrower they are, complete with the occasional wild solo that doesn’t seem out of place in the slightest.  With as formulaic as this sound may seem when turned into the written word, what’s so great about that classic Bolt Thrower sound is that they were always able to make new, fresh songs using the same mold over and over.  That’s exactly what Dawn of Warfare is to a T.  Every song follows the same blueprint, but each has its own identity and is just as memorable as the last song.

Again, like the EP, the production is just right.  It’s dirty but only because the music is dirty, not because of the way it was recorded.  Everything is thick and powerful without compromising a single note.  Everyone's instrument is audible and BearBee’s vocals are as primitively punishing as one could ask for in death metal.  It’s this type of organic growl that sets apart quite a few death metal bands out there and will be highly appreciated by the die-hards and purists.

It’s difficult to attempt to put into words the subtle differences between the songs, but just know that “Capping the T,” “Mutiny” and “Mustard Gas” are a three-piece that will have you in a sixteen-minute-long headbang and are easily the most pummeling sixteen minutes in death metal this year.

The problem is going to be tracking this album down as they have virtually no internet presence at all and neither does their label.  Do what you can though as Dawn of Warfare is by far the diamond in the rough of 2010 and an album you seriously need to own.

Release Date: 2010
Label: Nebiula Production

TRACK LISTING

1.  Intro
2.  Trench
3.  The Crisis to Come
4.  Front Runner
5.  Command and Control
6.  Warts of War
7.  Minefields (A Way to Kill)
8.  Capping the T
9.  Mutiny
10.  Mustard Gas
11.  Reactor #8
12.  Outro

Total playing time:  46:32

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