Fetid Zombie - Transmutations Review

Have you, my fan, ever thought how far this new generation of Death Metal bands are from the pioneers? I mean not only musicwise in terms of instrumentals but also regarding to gutural vocals, a thing that was a solid fundament for the Death Metal bands. The point I mean is that bands today vary much more in terms of vocals than pioneers bands. Of course the stapler gutural vocals are always on the scene in each Death Meatl album and they are the thing that labels tham as Death Metal. Vocals are the stapler of Death Metal and they are what gives the identity to the subgenre. There have been hot and passionate discussions about this. Some for the gutural vocals, some for the clean. Who wins? Metal does.

Ok, I say all that because here we have Fetid Zombie with “Transmutations,” an album that may strage the Death Metal fan at first. The neat and polished instrumentals here are very far from the originals we all know. Ok, Death Metal has always had cool instrumentals you may say. That’s right. I agree. However, what the fan might find here is pretty diferent. There are lots of variations in instrumentals, moods, vocals and feelings. The kind of variations that are pretty regular on modern Black Metal albums. Go straight ahead to “Dreamless Sleep Awaits” and listen carefully. But have patient and wait. The songs kicks off with a soundscape pretty natural to Atmospheric Black Metal bands. A sweet and angelic female vocals come to give the song an ethereal and out-of-this-world mooding. Instrumentals follow this path. Then comes the change by the second minute. Instrumentals change to a Metallica “…And Justie for All” era mood and cadence. Vocals get harsher. Nonethless the song is astonishing of a b*stial beauty. What to say of opening track “Chrysopoeia” and its Mercyful Fate inspired instrumentals mood and the scarse vocals registers? Well, only that it is great…

Here Fetid Zombie make a bold move. “Transmutations” isn’t a regular Death Metal album. It’s pretty distinct. The word ‘subtle’ came to my mind and I guess it explains better what the fan will find here. I realyy don’t know if subtle means much or if it could be aplied to a Death Metal but whatever. It is what it is. Jus to make my point again go straight ahead to the last track “Breath of Thanatos” and feel it. Pay close attention to the Mercyful Fate inspired instrumentals and to the variation of vocals. Breathtaking, if I dare to say.

The only thing I have to say here is recommend my fan to try this one. Worth the experience.

Fetid Zombie “Transmutations” will be released on July 30th via Transcending Obscurity Records.

Track Listing: