As you know, Northern Europe is legendary for its Metal production. Each country has its niche. Norway excels in old-school Black and Avant-Garde, Sweden in Death and Black, Iceland in Black and Post, and Finland is pretty much good at everything. Did I miss anyone? Ah, right, there’s Denmark, known for…Mercyful Fate? A few underground bands? (I love you, Saturnus!) Awkward, but there’s one band in the last decade that has come to restore Danish honor: Hyperdontia. Today, we’re talking about Harvest of Malevolence. Er du klar? Ready?
Hyperdontia has the good/bad luck of releasing an album that set the standard for modern Danish Death Metal: Nexus of Teeth (check out its cover art!). So, it will always come to mind. However, I’m happy to say that Harvest has its own identity. It will make a soup out of your flesh and grind your bones into porridge. All that with consistent and honestly good-sounding production. Yes, it’s a bit loud, but it’s also crunchy and highlights all the riffs. So, for once, I’m not going to make a big fuss about production. Can you believe it?
Harvest is old-school Death Metal, but it doesn’t sound like your uncle’s drunk garage band trying to break through after 20 years of wedding gigs. This thing has personality and it doesn’t get boring. It doesn’t even get rancid for fun. Hyperdontia is a group of gifted musicians who have no intention of being pretentious. Yet, you just have to hear those bass lines, those sickening melodies, to know that the band knows exactly what to do to bury you deep into your own self-denial (they’re not calling you back, my friend). I know Hyperdontia tends to be qualified as “barbaric,” but in this release, I disagree. This thing is nasty with brains behind it.
“Cool, Catto, but when do you break my heart?” I guess now. Awesome, Harvest has its own approach to Death Metal from the cave. I believe that if you’re not deeply into this sound and its details, Harvest won’t change your mind. Yes, it’s technical, but not absurdly technical, and yes, it’s brutal, but not to a grinding level. Plus, I have a hard time telling tracks apart. There’s no one track I recall well, but maybe that’s not terrible since it forces me to go through the album again. I like them all, but a bit more contrast would’ve benefited the album.
Hyperdontia has crafted a worthy successor to its previous efforts. I’ll keep picking on the Danes and say that’s because the band is also from Turkey, of course (so many logical arguments). Anyway, if you want filthy Death Metal that is more than just mindless bashing, Harvest of Malevolence is handmade for you. Now, time for a Danish joke:
“Can you play the violin?”
“I don’t know, I’ve never tried”
Label: Dark Descent Records/ Me Saco Un Ojo Records
Release date: 21 June, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/hyperdontia
Country: Denmark/Turkey
Score: A ship bitten down by giant shark, or 3.5/5.0 for the children
Metal Eclipse Reviews 