Undeath throw it all at the wall on More Insane and all of it sticks.
Release date: October 4, 2024 | Prosthetic Records | Facebook | Instagram | Buy/Stream
One of the biggest gripes I personally have with death metal over the last few years is the general lack of personality and identity within the genre. My high altitude take is that now that the OSDM revival seems to be slowing a lot of bands who made their bones during that surge of the old-school sound need to establish an identity beyond just that aesthetic. Some bands such as Tomb Mold and Blood Incantation have turned to progressive ideas to mix it up and while that’s more of a trend rather long in the tooth, it’s not a bad idea when done right. Some acts, however, shouldn’t go that route and Undeath is one of them. And to put your fears to rest, they haven’t gone prog on More Insane. Not in the slightest.
Undeath are one of the bands that have shot up in popularity for a variety of reasons: their understanding of how to write catchy death metal tracks, their infectiously lively shows, and a skillful balance of taking the music but not themselves seriously. More Insane stands as the band’s third LP and with each album they have subtly changed up their approach, with their previous album It’s Time…To Rise From the Grave garnering them a host of year-end awards and accolades. So how do you follow something like that up? It’s an enviable but tough spot. I guess their approach is pretty much explained with that album title, so let’s dig in.
When I think about Undeath what immediately springs to mind is a few key things: riffs, that kick drum tone, and Alex’s sparkling death metal growl. “Dead From Beyond” kicks things off with all of these after being led in with a snare roll that gives this horde of undead a militant feel and then continues to march their undead lumbering carcasses right into the mosh pit. What’s evident right from the start is that Undeath aren’t fucking around but also they are definitely fucking around. “Brandish the Blade” was the lead track from this album and it introduced a wonderful little wrinkle with a nice NWOAHM-style breakdown before leading into a sweet solo. This is the sort of little change that can alienate some and endear others and I certainly fall into the latter.
What is shining through on More Insane is that Undeath’s personality and identity has grown and they are embracing it at every turn. Unorthodox riff and drum patterns like the intro to “Disputatious Malignancy” and “Disattachment of a Prophylactic in the Brain” are something that you’re not likely to hear anywhere else. The latter also features some new vocal speed and cadence to further differentiate Undeath from their peers. It’s a wonderful thing to see unfold. For all of the new ideas expressed on More Insane, they are still indelibly themselves and not a moment passes on this album where you’d wonder who you’re listening to. This is a win.
The song selection plays out more like an anthology than a single story but the lore – if that’s not too bold of a word – is that all of these events (as well as the previous two albums, check those artwork nods) take place within the same mind. It’s like a flipbook of horrors that ranges from bounty hunters, war, zombies, and the like. This is death metal and while there are familiar faces and monsters it’s how they’re presented that make this album such a fun listen. “Sutured For War” with its punchy vocal lines, the brutal death metal leanings of “Wailing Cadavers”, and the antagonistic “Bounty Hunter” are all excellent topically but each one just feels like a signature Undeath song.
Undeath have steadily been chisling out their identity over the last few years and while every element of this band is strong, I think the strength of their personality is what makes them one of my favorite new(ish) bands in death metal. There are so many acts out there all mixing and remixing the same death metal sounds that it honestly can become a chore to distinguish some from others without knowing the songs like the back of your hand. With Undeath, there’s a much smaller chance that I couldn’t identify them within seconds of hearing a track. To make all of this better, their songwriting has both tightened up and expanded and the sense that they are having a damn good time doing all of this shines through. More Insane is their most expansive and enjoyable listen so far. Do you remember all of those trailers that were made for Tarantino’s grindhouse films Death Proof and Planet Terror? Listening to More Insane feels like watching those trailers, three or four minutes of balls-to-the-wall action and horror, over and over again. This is splatterhouse death metal that is equal parts titillating and authentic, one of the year’s best.