I’ve always admired Deepsend Records, for their DIY ethic and ability to release records from fairly obscure bands that manage to compete with the larger named, larger label releases, and releases by the likes of Porkfarm, Dawn of Demise, Lecherous Nocturne, Exitium and such show the band has an eye for talent, and the debut EP from California’s Dismal Lapse is no exception.

Formerly known as ‘Bled’, Dismal Lapse adds to 2008s bumper crop of standout death metal, and though only a 5 song EP, like the recent Porkfarm EP, its shows a ton of promise in delivering death metal the way it should be; brutal, technical and proficient, with enough hooks and tenacity.

Now don’t get me wrong, this isn’t Decrepit Birth, Origin or Hate Eternal good, and the overall sound is far murkier and primal, nor is it pure old school worship like Hail of Bullets, or a Unique Leader blast fest like say, Hour of Penance, but if you’ve enjoyed the likes of Detrimentum as well as Sarpanitum, Prostitute Disfigurement, Krisiun, Trigger The Bloodshed, Misery, and such, you know what to expect, just well done, no frills, nasty death metal, that makes no bones about being death metal.

The crumbling production is fitting; not to clean, not overly muddy, and in the 5 direct, to the point tracks, the band get enough solos, blast beats and growls in to let you know they mean business. Technical, but not overly complex, tracks like “Red Snow, Cold Steel”, “Clipping the Wings of Hope”, and “Before Our Eyes”, deliver 18 minutes of above average death metal, its not quite as good as the Porkfarm EP, also on Deepsend, but you just have to decide if the 18 minutes is worth the price.

[Visit the band's website]

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