Album Review: Fit For An Autopsy / Thy Art Is Murder / Malevolence – The Aggression Sessions (Nuclear Blast)

The Aggression Sessions is a split mini-album that features Fit for An Autopsy, Thy Art Is Murder, and Malevolence. The follow-up to 2016’s The Depression Sessions (which featured Thy Art Is Murder, Fit for An Autopsy and The Acacia Strain), it will be released on April 7th, 2023 via Nuclear Blast.

Featuring a brand-new track and one cover each, The Aggression Sessions has more than enough to make it a must listen for fans of these bands. Hell, the new tracks alone are the draw. Even if none of the bands are breaking the mould with their offerings.

No complaints though, especially when Fit for An Autopsy deliver such a raging, snarling, spitting, and spewing blast of furious deathcore with Hellions. The bar setter simply because of the intensity on show. It’s a track enhanced by clever layers of ambience but will be remembered for just how neck-breaking it is.

Thy Art is Murder’s Until There Is No Longer follows suit and finds the group in a dark and disgustingly heavy mood. It’s as though the title of this mini-album was an instruction and they were more than willing to expel some anger.

Finally, it’s Malevolence with their new track, Waste of Myself and offering up something that has modern groove and hardcore-infused energy. As only this band is capable of. It’s a recognisable Malevolence, with a stompy chorus, manic riffs, a screeching guitar solo, and plenty of scowling in-your-face belligerence on show.

Which brings us to the covers and some intriguing variations on beloved heavy classics and an Anastacia song. No disrespect to the singer and song-writer, but when you see At the Gates and Cannibal Corpse, a cover of her song Left Outside Alone certainly stands out. It’s Malevolence that tackle this one and… it’s interesting. Putting it simply, this is one you’re going to have to make up your own mind about.

As for the other tracks, At the Gate’s Under A Serpent Sun is covered by Fit for An Autopsy and they stick to the formula, for better or worse. Whereas Cannibal Corpse’s Hammer Smashed Face is given a robust refresh via the Thy Art is Murder treatment.

Worth hearing for the three new tracks and, maybe, the Anastacia cover.

Fit for an Autopsy / Thy Art Is Murder / Malevolence – The Aggression Sessions Track Listing:

1. Fit for An Autopsy – Hellions
2. Thy Art is Murder – Until There Is No Longer
3. Malevolence – Waste of Myself
4. Fit for An Autopsy – Under A Serpent Sun (At the Gates Cover)
5. Thy Art is Murder – Hammer Smashed Face (Cannibal Corpse Cover)
6. Malevolence – Left Outside Alone (Anastacia Cover)

Links

Nuclear Blast