Scorn of Creation – Self Titled (Deadboy Records)

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What a bunch of show-offs.

Wellington death metal band Scorn of Creation come at their self-titled debut like they’ve got something to prove. The long run of promotion leading up to the release certainly promised a lot, as does the pedigree of the band members: Bulletbelt, Backyard Burial, Horrendous Disfigurement- a long list of NZ metal prestige lurks behind this band.

And Scorn of Creation feels like a mission statement, from the opening drum rattle into the undulating main riff of Realisation: Defying the Crown. It’s a riff that will immediately bob any death metal fan’s head, and maybe even cause that lip-pucker-with-frown that looks like you want to kiss someone you’re really mad at. It’s also a riff that will immediately put anyone who cut their teeth on Morbid Angel’s Altars of Madness into a happy comfort zone.

That line between freshness and old-school orthodoxy is one Scorn of Creation walk throughout the album, and they walk it well. The sound is crisp and spacious, without over-reaching into the loud sheen of too much modern tech-death. The style is unashamedly built on the shoulders of giants, without becoming clone-like. The playing is technically accomplished without being self indulgent.

It’s without doubt a contemporary album, but one that’s looking back. Like a well-made sequel to a classic movie, re-capturing the magic while adding modern bells and whistles. The album’s concept even mirrors this, telling of a fall from faith loosely mirrored on Dante’s Inferno. And it sounds hungry. Like the band are seeking not just to emulate old masters, but measure themselves against them.

Every riff and drum pattern sounds crafted for maximum ferocity, and Gillan’s growl is consistently menacing. Jolene Tempest, formerly of Bulletbelt, and Dan Birrell of Carnal make guest vocal appearances, on Dante (Traversing the Unknown) and Rebirth (The Promise of Pain to Come), respectively. Tempest sounds at the very top of her game, and raspy shriek is heard all too briefly, while Birrell’s gutturals fit well with one of the fastest tracks on the album.

Despite having a well defined sound, there’s a nice variety in these eight tracks as well. Tracks like Rebirth or Behold the Fallen come straight at you with busy brutality, while personal favourite The Ruin of the Damned starts up a catchy mid tempo riff that builds and morphs as it goes. Closer Rebellion Unleashed even has some progressive flourishes that put me in mind of Atheist.

One last notable thing I love about this album is that Seth Jackson’s guitar solos are given some damn room to breathe. Too many technically inclined death metal bands smother their lead guitarist in busy riffs and blasts, but Scorn of Creation know how to ease back just enough and hold the groove in support.

Scorn of Creation is a short album, in fact at less than 25 minutes it’s shorter than some EPs. With a mission statement like this, though, there’s not much need to stick around. Get in, melt faces, get out.

Cameron Miller

The 13th Floor
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