Brodequin - Harbinger Of Woe


Brodequin are one of those Death Metal bands that always stayed under the radar but never really took off even though they had potential. Maybe it doesn’t help that the last full length album they did was back in 2004, but this Knoxville based band has come back 20 years later, and it is quite the comeback. They have a new home on Seasons of Mist Underground Activists so hopefully that gives them a bit of exposure. For those who don’t know these guys they perform a Brutal Death Metal style that sounds like older Immolation mixed with Cerebral Bore and Abysmal Dawn. They go HARD. Their latest offering “Harbinger of Woe” is relentless track after track as they continue to create music based upon Inquisition weapons of torture and other tidbits of history’s horrors, but the music is really what will grab listeners. Let it be noted that those who are used to the likes of Melodeath like mid 2000s Kataklysm or even Thrash Death like Vader or your standard Death Metal fare by Obituary will probably be blown away by this. Those who listen to the likes of Defeated Sanity will probably be more prepared for the album.

What gives Brodequin its fury is the fuzzy guitar tones from Mike Bailey that have a bit of an old school touch to them but also a clear and direct path that doesn’t shroud everything else. Drums by Brennan Shackelford are clear and percussive thunder (in the Abysmal Dawn sort of way) and bring a bit more of the modern standard to Brodequin. Bass work by Jamie Bailey is a bit lost in the mix but his vocals are not. Guttural vomit spewing terror that would make fans of Devourment proud, he is a bit more intense than your standard Death Metal grunt and will also appeal to the likes of Slam Death fans as well. Just hearing everything on the opening ‘Diabolical Edict’ it is a pure tornado of sonic Hell that is only matched by the likes of Death Grind Noisecore bands like Full of Hell. Brodequin make sure they are heard and there is little respite for anyone as the vocals and guitars and drum just pummel over and over and over again. Some samples of people being tortured or accused are there but they are more atmosphere enhances rather than moments of quiet. Other tracks like ‘Theresiana’ aim to add bits of jarring melody with the guitars, but they are a bit shadowed by the drums that constantly go into overdrive. As the album carries on, listeners will to start to notice despite this impressive barrage, the album doesn’t quite have too many tracks that really differ, so those who like a constant stream of guitars, hellish gurgles and roars, and machine gun fire drumming will get it for 30 plus minutes. Those who like a guitar interlude or a moment of quiet will have to look elsewhere.

For those who like a little bit of groove injected in their music and not so much just a hailstorm of drums, ‘VII Nails’ offers a bit more bursts of drums and a little more of that standard, more accessible chug from the guitars, but at the same time it lets the vocals shine even more as they just sound more ferocious as they rip right into the ear. Things get a little more chuggy and bounce between Brutal Death and Slam territory with ‘Vredens Dag’ and there is even a bit of melody in some of the guitar lines rather than just harsh riffs, but it doesn’t last long. ‘Harbinger of Woe’ is probably the ‘softest track’ with its lengthy outro sample and a relinquishing of the vocals, but that is stating it very lightly as it is still and extremely heavy track as it churns along. And then it just ends.

It is a bit disappointing the album ends abruptly and it does feel a bit like the songs run together, but the album does make a statement of a triumphant return. While there isn’t really a stand out track to really define their comeback (compared to their last album with their 7 minute instrumental which is a bit of a filler but still impressive), “Harbinger of Woe” is a nasty blow to the ear in a good way. Brodequin should be proud (and also ashamed) that they took so long to get this out after almost 20 years- and ‘boxed sets’ don’t count in between- but those who are looking for Metal that is intense, guttural, and actually quite serious versus some of the humorous material that some Brutal/ Slam bands put out despite their heaviness (ex. Brojob), then they will really appreciate the blend of Old School meets New School approach that Brodequin does. They have come crashing in with a roar, not a whimper, and everyone who likes Death Metal in general will want to listen.

4.5 / 5 STARS




1. Diabolical Edict
2. Fall Of The Leaf
3. Theresiana
4. Of Pillars And Trees
5. Tenaillement
6. Maleficium
7. Vii Nails
8. Vredens Dag
9. Suffocation In Ash
10. Harbinger Of Woe