Ok, Dark Descent Records has been hitting slam dunks all over the place, this year with their releases.  Now Unique Leader Records, is getting pretty close, with their outstanding releases and will it be DDR for the fourth time claiming label of the year, in my year’s end best or not?  While it remains to be seen, DDR crash, bang wallops you over the head with yet another top-notch release.  Undergang’s fourth album, Misantropologi, is the best DDR release of the year, thus far, in my opinion.

Undergang opting to go for a more streamlined album, this time around and rather than put out an album worth of 45-50 minutes of music, they decided to do a ten song 28 minute album.  So while we are not speaking about quantity, Undergang, understanding this, goes for the quality.  Their last album, Døden læger alle sår, was quite a phenomenal album, just like the prior 2 albums and Misantropologi wastes no time at all, in its brief stay with going right into the blood and guts of their brutal brand of death metal. After a brief intro clip, “Efter Obduktionen”  gets things under way, really quick, with what is the best opening guitar riff, of the year.  My god!  Brutally heavy, catchy, dirty and most of all filthy.  Anders drums are insanely awesome sounding, with the natural and organic feel and double bass to collapse chest cavities worldwide.  The 1.08 part hits with the classic 90’s beat before the isolated guitar Holy Shit part comes in and then right into a blast.  David’s vocals, once again, are impressively deep, evil, gurgling, disgusting, and simply put beautiful for Undergang.  The back ‘n forth blast, mid-paced moments are brilliant and the opening godly riff comes in again towards the end of the song.  It’s one of the many things Undergang does so exceedingly well, understanding a killer riff and unafraid to return to it several times, in the song, to embed in the listener’s brain, without wanting to put a bajillion riffs and time changes into a song.

Up next is the blazing “Sygelige nydelser (del I) Apotemnofili” and the 29 second moment, and yes you will know it once you hear it, reminds me of Carcass’ classic “Ruptured in Purulence”, opening.  Whether an homage or not, who cares, this moment just plain destroys.  At only a brief 1.16 Undergang chooses to hit you with a short little ditty of a number.  “Klynget op i en galge af egne indvolde” has a nice opening guitar riff and guitar melodies and the groove hits at the 50 second mark.  Then you realize, what is going on, oh yeah, you’re being swallowed alive by Sam’s killer bass guitar, bottom-end sound.  Punishing.  Mainly rooted in a Rottrevore stylized groove, mid-paced part, this is once again a catchy and crushing tune.

“Lymfatisk Drænage” has a killer opening and David comes in with a vicious pained and anguished growl-belch and boom right into a monstrous head-banging moment that will have heads just falling off shoulders, during a live setting.  The 1 minute mark is slower, doomier and these little elements help separate Undergang from the rest of the pack, just crafting well thought out songs.  And riffs, riffs and more riffs!!!  “En Bedemands Bekendelser” has some awesome isolated bass guitar moments and the last song “The Chasm” (Disgrace tribute) is classic.  Brutal and the 40 second part with the drums and guitar riff is mean, heavy and crushing.  The pounding groove at the 90 second part will have you launching neighborhoods into the pits of hell all damn day.

The production on Misantropologi is perfect.  Natural, organic, heavy, pulverizing and the mix is spot on.  Even with music this heavy you can make out the ultra-heavy guitar riffs and the vocals and instruments are all there, no drowning out, of any segment of the band.  I recently saw Undergang on tour, once again, and this time with the killer Necrot as openers.  Just a fantastic show and while David and Anders are from Denmark, it certainly makes some things easier with bassist, Sam, from the United States, regarding tours, recordings, merch etc.  Undergang’s music also translates wonderful in a live setting with the crowd just going ballistic and the band having a ton of energy.  The album cover of Misantropologi, I keep hearing people refer to Leeway’s album cover many years ago, but I have yet to hear anyone mention Triumph’s best album- Thunder Seven…oh boy I’m showing my age.  Anyway, Undergang are a bunch of great fellas and I enjoy our friendship and hanging out at the shows with them.  While Misantropologi is a much shorter album, then they’ve done in the past, make no mistake, I am concerned with quality and every damn song is crushing, ferocious, catchy and well-written.

One of the top albums of 2017.  Please like their FB page, go to DDR and pick up the recorded format of your choice and shirt.  If the band is playing in America or overseas, say hi to them and pick up some merch.  This is the underground folks and if you’re not doing your part to help support the bands and scene than you’re just taking up valuable oxygen.  Buy or Die!!

 

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