DYING FETUS - Reign Supreme Review

DYING FETUS - Reign Supreme

Relapse Records

Bandcamp

I chose to review this one of their latest because I thought that it was catchier and sort of the essence of a better DYING FETUS-esque vibe than their current release. Not to mention that I like the production on here, it's solid. The vocals have never been my favorite listening moments in DYING FETUS albums, but they want to keep it underground and I have no problem in saying "okay, this is how you want to do it, you can change it up here and there." John Gallagher and Sean Beasely trade off on vocals so it's variety, at least.

What's so gripping about this release is the music above everything else. DYING FETUS just tears it up in the guitar department. The arpeggios whizzing up and down the fret-board alongside thick guitar artistry tempos really are all over the place. But the execution of the drums along the guitar is what makes this a gem. I don't think I've liked a DYING FETUS album more than this one. Honestly, I don't care that they sing about morbid topics such as hatred and violence mixed with some flirty political views. This is brutal death metal, they can write what they deem fitting to write about.

I cannot get enough of the guitars and energy.They rip it up and the vocals keep the music sounding darker than it actually is. So yeah, it's from every aspect from what's been talked about the band forming in Maryland circa 1991 alongside members comping and going in the band, it seems that they have their strongest, most gripping lineup since forming. 

The blast beats I can deal with since I favor bands like NAPALM DEATH during the Mick Harris (ex-NAPALM DEATH/DEFECATION) era of drummers and totally am into the grind NAPALM DEATH days where it was just raw. At the time DYING FETUS formed, ND's "Harmony Corruption" was released (I believe that year, 1991). So they tackled their influences in the grind mode but strain it deeper with more memorable arpeggios and tremolo picking that's almost robotic. The drums have been criticized on here (“Reign Supreme”) yet I think the snare is just fine.

Altogether, we've touched on the production, the music, the lyrical concepts, the originality in songwriting (to a certain extent) and the vocals. There's no reason why this album is nothing closer to perfect than anything in their entire discography. You might have to just download this album or listen to it on YouTube. Check out "Subjected to a Beating", "In the Trenches", "Devout Atrocity" and "The Blood of Power." In the words of Chuck Schuldiner (RIP): "keep the metal faith alive." Get this one, NOW!

Ryan “Death8699”  Fanucchi