h33t - Decrepity -2008- The Decaying Of Evolution [rockbox]

Canada (Val-d)

Current line-up
Martin Durette - Vocals, Guitar (Unhealty)
Pierre-Alexandre Mercier - Drums
Maxime Couture - Vocals, Guitar (2007- ) (Unhealty)
Martin Lord - Bass

Quote:
The next generation of Quebec metal has arrived. And much like the
generations before it, this one sounds more determined than ever to be
different from the rest. As the oversaturated American metalcore and
deathcore movements have shown the metal world, the style that prides
itself on traditions of individuality and being trend-free has actually
ended up being quite the contrary, with massive homogenous tour
packages and blatant studio trickery rendering all bands exactly alike.
Either the trio of French dudes from Decrepity don’t get their musical
or fashion cues from Myspace, or they have done the impossible by
veering away from the typical approach a young band entering the scene
would take. It is most likely the latter, and for a band who formed in
2005 (albeit from the ashes of previous acts in their hometown of Val
D’Or, Quebec), their debut EP is brimming with maturity and an intense
degree of focus often not seen from extreme bands this young. While the
young generation of metal fans are only now catching on to the more
technically complex artists Quebec was brewing up in the 90’s in the
way of Neuraxis, Martyr, Gorguts, and even Cryptopsy, it hasn’t taken
long for the newer, more brutal wave of bands like Despised Icon,
Beneath The Massacre, and Ion Dissonance to get noticed, as brutal
seems to be the name of the game nowadays. Those bands do it well; the
millions worldwide who emulate them, not even close.

The Quebec way of
going about things seems quite contrary to the American, or even the
European approach, come to think of it. In Quebec, when one band
perfects a groundbreaking sound, others don’t automatically set out to
rip them off like we often see in the U.S. It tends to inspire a
greater degree of creativity, and will to differentiate themselves from
the other pioneering bands at the moment. And this is a rare, beautiful
thing.

Decrepity are a band who, upon first listen, may not immediately
make jaws drop, and that’s because unlike many bands from around here,
their goal on “The Decaying of Evolution” is clearly not to reinvent
the wheel. And it’s a good thing they are humble enough in their young
age to solidify their approach and not bite off more than they can
chew, because those who do are nothing more than cringe-worthy,
especially in a live setting. Decrepity are a three-piece who know
exactly what they are doing.

While Montreal’s longstanding veterans
Kataklysm have been enjoying a global rejuvenation of their popularity
in the last few years, it could be argued by purists of the
melodic/brutal death metal genre that their latest album “Prevail” fell
short of the expectations they are known to fill. Crazily enough, if we
are to compare Decrepity to a Quebec band of old, it would have to be
Kataklysm…albeit a much tighter, tougher, and more energetic version,
not to mention one with more tricks up their sleeve than they initially
lead listeners to believe. Sure, drummer Pierre-Alexandre Mercier can
blast his way through a brick wall and does so impressively at various
points on “The Decaying of Evolution.” However, as the band recently
explained in the video interview Hardtimes.ca conducted with them
following their first of many Montreal performances to come, their
desire to create a more dynamic listening and moshing experience
resulted in this their debut EP being quite the lesson in tempo
shifting, notably many mid-paced and slower moments that give the EP a
richer feel than much of the relentless deathcore permeating the
mainstream at the moment. The band’s newest member, guitarist and
vocalist Maxime Couture, is a beast of a frontman whose maniacal yet
intensely focused bald-headed presence bears an uncanny resemblance to
Dying Fetus’ John Gallagher. Couture’s gutturals are complemented by
Martin Durette’s hardcore-inspired screams, adding even more texture to
Decrepity’s frontline.

Possible Diagnosis:
With all the unabashed breakdowns and devastating slams, one cannot help but
think of the upstate New York, hardcore-tinged death metal scene of the
mid-late 90’s where death metal took on a very urban, street feel for
the first time in the style’s evolution. In that regard, Decrepity
bring to mind excellent but largely underrated bands like Pyrexia,
Internal Bleeding, Withered Earth, Wisconsin’s Jungle Rot, and the more
established but equally homegrown Skinless. In fact, the guitar tone
and patterns on “The Decaying of Evolution” sounds so much like
Skinless’ latest album “Trample The Weak, Hurdle The Dead” it’s scary;
this is likely a coincidence, but a very good one, as that album left a
huge impact on many religious followers of progressive slam death.

Taking the New York comparison even further, if we acknowledge that two
of the most legendary and pioneering death metal bands ever, Cannibal
Corpse and Malevolent Creation, were originally from Buffalo, New York,
then we can include them in the list of bands Decrepity can be compared
to; the latter especially. Comparisons to the Baltimore touraholics
Misery Index, both musically, lyrically, and emotionally in the sense
of sheer desperation, would not be out of place either. Also worthy of
mention is that Decrepity’s debut was released on Cryogenic Records, a
tiny, hard-working label founded and headed by the lead guitarist
Sebastien Audet of Quebec’s finest running melodic death metal act,
Archons, and whose roster has also included the ex-Neuraxis project
Descend Into Nothingness.

Recommendation:
Finally,
the album’s recording courtesy of Despised Icon guitarist Yannick
St-Amand, and Obliveon and ex-A Perfect Murder guitarist Pierre
Remillard’s mastering job at Wild Studio (Starkweather, Misery Index),
make “The Decaying of Evolution” a release that leaves the listener
crying out for more, which cannot come soon enough.