EP Review: Delirium by Deathrite (Into Endless Chaos Records)

Germany’s blackened death metal band, Deathrite are back with their latest EP, Delirium set for release on the 9th of April via Into Endless Chaos Records.

The Dresden based 5 piece have been forging their wares since 2010 managing to churn out 4 full lengths, a split and a compilation in that relatively short time. Their most recent being 2018’s Nightmares Reign. Combining a mix of genres on the heavier side from death to black to noise to grind, they create a powerful suffocating style of metal full of grime, fuzz and distortion. Deathrite are constantly creating new music, pushing the boundaries of Metal and Punk.  Delirium is setting the stage once more, exposing its visceral view at a bad trip to the deepest depths of your vicious desires. Wounded, addicted and violated…

Deathrite are Andy on guitars, Tony on vocals, Anton on guitars, Martine on bass and Sandro Schulze on drums.

Delirium comes a lot of content, over 25 minutes of new music which, for an EP is more than generous these days.

with The title track, Delirium starts with layers of darkness pouring through from a morose melody before the intensity jumps up. Dirty riffs and screaming guitars combine with a thick and murky rhythm section before a roar kicks things off. A strange little unnecessary effect diverts your attention for a second before we get back into the blend of black, death and noise. Vocals are rough and angry with a lot of echo on them, the drums rain down combining with the guitars to create an energetic, swampy sound that sounds raw, heavy and filthy. The lead guitars ring through the dark shroud, piercing it with clean ringing tones – I love that contrast. It’s a strong start.

And that continues into Repulsive Obsession. A slower groove, thick and chunky gets the head banging along before the ringing melody pierces the veil again. The tempo lifts again in a swirl of cymbal heavy drums and twisting distorted riffs. Vocals stay heavy and threatening with a lot of echo still. It adds to the raw feel of the tracks to be fair. It’s a banger this one, I love the overall suffocating feeling you get from the album and the switches from a beat you can just about catch to chaotic instrumentation is actually quite cool being something I don’t always love. Here it seems to work for me, and I think that might be down to the overall feel of the tracks. The tones, the vocals, it begs for chaos and so it fits.

From the Edge to the Abyss comes next and is a short, near 2 minute interlude of sorts. Backing sounds, whispers, distortion and feedback lays down the atmosphere and foundation for the track that follows.

The wonderfully named, Someone to Bleed With picks up the tones of the interlude and starts to transform it into this song. A dirty melody takes over before vocals more in the hardcore camp start building with the song. Clean at first but getting angrier, you wait for an explosion and it comes. The chaos subsides though and instead we are in a really sweet fucking groove. The drums are fire, the switch in vocals, a welcome change up and riffs that demand movement. Brilliant. Consistently heavy, the song has plenty of variety though. In fact all of Delirium does which is a testament to Deathrite as finding variety in a whirling mass of noise and death is hard. This song, beneath the fuzz is super creative. Transitions between tempo and tone, vocal change ups, swirling riffs that change key – there is a lot going on but oh, does it work.

Vortex is next up and brings the anarchy back with an aggressive song that leans heavily on black metal, or post black metal, with vicious vocals and drum blasts. The riffs are furious, the tone is dark and dirty. This is heavy stuff, still dirty and aggressive but also still packed with elements that break up any possibility of monotony. A wicked screaming solo, echoed vocals that give the impression of gang vocals – there is a lot to enjoy. Up next comes Vicious Nights. Another 2 minute track that is really here to set the mood. An industrial vibe comes across here with a tone and effect that sounds almost like a warning. There are distorted vocal passages but it doesn’t offer a lot as a track of it’s own though it will make a great walk out on stage intro.

And so we reach the close of Delirium with Sepulchral Rapture. I guess by now I know what to expect and I get what I expect. A gloriously dark track with moments of rhythm that force you to headbang, and others of anarchy that demand movement in the pit. The vocals continue on the excessive echo while the drums pound out. Lead guitar melody elevates the track at just the right time and point to transform the song whenever you think it might be a bit much or a bit repetitive. The solo, yep, a solo, is excellent and almost thrash or NWOBHM styled, leading the EP to it’s close in a whirl of fire and fury.

Delirium is a wicked EP with a lot of content where these days you can get away with 10 or 15 minutes and two tracks. I am not sure I fully get the second short song, Vicious Nights and there is a lot of echo, sometimes working perfectly and sometimes feeling a bit too much but those are minor complaints on a  release of  supreme quality. Delirium is raw, it’s heavy, its dirty and it’s rough. I love the overall suffocating feel, like a thick blanket that drops over you as you listen. Even more so, I love the sudden piercing guitars that poke holes in that shroud offering small rays of light within the gloom.

Preorder your copy of Delirium by Deathrite here or via the label, here.

Links

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