Denial Fiend - Horror Holocaust
Returning with their follow up to 2007’s ‘They Rise’ debut, Denial Fiend have a new line up and a fresh approach. Gone are the Kam Lee vocals and the heritage of Curtis Beeson, in steps Blaine Cook (ex-The Accused) on vocals and Rob Rampy of D.R.I. on drums. Some people say that change is a good thing, to be honest; the jury is well and truly out when it comes to the vocals in particular on this second full length album. Musically, death metal features a tiny bit, there is more emphasis on crossover thrash, and I suppose that’s what these two new members bring to the table judging by their history. The scream and shout cry of the vocals really does lower the tone of some decent quality backbone in the songs. It’s whiny, unclear and really not that tolerable at all. Does this make it extreme? What is does do is detract the focus from the rest of the band, whom I have to say but in some neck breaking rhythms, like that on ‘Stuck Pig/Bleeding Out’. The soundtrack to ‘Afterparty Massacre’ features its namesake track from this band, not bad, but then I did not really do for the full release either.
More of the thrash beats entertains the albums stand out track ‘Flesh Coffin’, Blaine takes it relatively easy on this one, in doing so, the track grows on you. By now, the initial shock and change is now not so challenging. The title track is back to normal again, in terms hard-edged influences. A change may have been what was needed, but I am still a fan of the phrase “if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it”. For whatever reason for the new approach and line up, to dismiss this album would be unfair, it is a good death/crossover release, but it is certainly not what I expected from this band.
More of the thrash beats entertains the albums stand out track ‘Flesh Coffin’, Blaine takes it relatively easy on this one, in doing so, the track grows on you. By now, the initial shock and change is now not so challenging. The title track is back to normal again, in terms hard-edged influences. A change may have been what was needed, but I am still a fan of the phrase “if it isn’t broke then don’t fix it”. For whatever reason for the new approach and line up, to dismiss this album would be unfair, it is a good death/crossover release, but it is certainly not what I expected from this band.
- Corrupted Flesh
- Stuck Pig/Bleeding Out
- After Party Massacre
- Flesh Coffin
- A Fiend Without A Face
- Horror Holocaust
- Dunsmoor
- Hell Asylum
