My first introduction to San Francisco’s Acephalix was on these very pages, after reading a review of Interminable Night by out very own Stacy Buchanan. And being a huge fan of Southern Lord’s Crust/D-beat revival with the likes of Nails, Dead In the Dirt, All Pigs Must Die and such, Acephalix was a no brainer.

So here is the follow up, Deathless Master, and it appears Acephalix have steered their d-beat/crust ship into even more Swedish death metal realms with a dirtier, more base level, double bass filled, Stockholm death metal hue that imbues early Grave much more heavily than the more crusty and Bolt Thrower tones (though still present) of the previous album. A more primal guitar tone, much gruffer vocals and a simple, steady chug, seems to have toned down the crust/d-beat elements, but the heaver Grave influence offsets that with a much burlier, nastier sound.

If you don’t believe me just go straight to the last half of  “Raw Life” or especially  closer “Tomb of our Fathers”, which could have been straight from Into the Grave and does more than recall “For Your God”. But traces on increased Stockholm influence are evident throughout the rest of the album also as heard on the start of opener “Bastard Self”‘, “Blood of Desire”, chugging “The Hunger” and “In the Arms of Nothing”. Even with all the Grave influence, Acephalix have not completely dropper their prior tone as older fans  wanting more Bolt Thrower could go straight to “On Wings…” also.

At a brisk but burly 30 minutes, Deathless Master, takes little effort to enjoy or absorb. It’s a simple, rumbling release but it never really takes off or ups the pace, and I’m pretty confident its not going to satiate d-beat/crust purists, who are probably better off with the ripping new Wolfbrigade album. However, those that enjoyed releases by the likes of Funeral Whore or Brutally Deceased will find a pretty awesome, slightly Americanized take on a classic sound.

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