A short listen coming in under 20 minutes Hadal Mal has delivered a brutal and crushing death metal tape in the Oblique Order. With disorientating discordant riffs, dynamic drum work, and grizzled vocal work starting off strong with Fetishize Consumption, this track sound like being pulled into hell, down a spiral staircase. As I listened, I felt the doom and contempt towards our consumerist culture. An inspired reflection on the commodification of every aspect of life, backed by excellent death metal instrumentation and dynamic vocals, nothing more brutal than a mirror sometimes. Instrumentally the leading riff was underutilized and the switch up at 2:45 could have led into a more cathartic passage however before long we’re hit with a flurry of violent riffage.
Still, I felt that section could have spurred onto something great, that dizzy transition section only last around 10 seconds though has me wanting more. This is the core of my feelings towards this project.
The tracks through this album layout a grime sound though feels held back, seemingly restricted by convention or it is possible that this feeling of containment is purposeful to emphasize the messaging. While the vocals are incredible with such a heavy focus on powerful growls the legibility of the message is lost in some of the incoherent vocals. This is understandable and will continue to be maintained in all extreme genres however potentially utilizing more emphasis on pronunciation as early vocalists like Chuck Schuldiner and Chris Barnes would allow the core of the album to come forth.
The instrumentation, production, and mix are impressively well constructed, and I expect much less from a band this fresh.
Bringing in some sounds from tech-death and modern hardcore while not drowning the productions in the same staples from these genres Hadal Mal has done something special here.
This isn’t my favorite album, nor would I rate it higher than the recent heavy-hitting albums of the genre, however, if you’re a lover of death metal like myself I hope you hear what I am talking about. Hadal Maw’s Oblique Order has left me wanting more and I will be actively watching for new music.
Hadal Mal: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Blighttown Records
Category: EP
Country: Australia
Reviewed by Jhai Bartley
