I sense that it would be an insult if one would have said that this is not bad for a pack of guys that once were a cover band for Punk / Metal and Rock. Therefore, you haven't heard it from me, as this here limb splitting mechanism called an album is a tough giant and it might squash you. Over the last couple of days I came to process the Swiss brutal moshpit grinders named DEFACED, which would seem like a fold of nice dudes, yet with their vision and creativity, they were able to bash in my skull with their pursue for perfection following their new release "Forging The Sanctuary", now out via Rising Nemesis Records. This impressively devouring chunk of blackened Brutal Death meat is the next thing in line in extreme Metal, and I shit you not. Skillfully mashing the blackish atmosphere and mastermind touch of GOD DETHRONED, the undeniable brutality of SUFFOCATION and the horrific Death / Thrash finesse of Polish VADER, these guys took their efforts into gear, crossing rapidly into the high levels of extremity, a simple form of art that has to be heeded.

DEFACED over time established a front of grinding butchery squashed by pig squeal front end, blasting rhythm section and massive riffing, yet also sending signals of a different kind of direction, laying down pattern of constructive soloing that really surprised me with its detail and malevolence, fast octave riffery and vocalic action that would indulge the Norwegian Black Metal legions just for a little bit, and possibly the luxurious aspect of all, I actually felt something from the arrangements. The overall music didn't reek of a mere sense of violence, but also of inner protest, a cry out to the world that there is something rotten and the beast is looming, ready to be awakened to correct the errors in its own vicious way. Call it a warning sign, as others have stated throughout the years, but for a brutal kind of Death Metal, it is not that commonly appealing (and I am positive that others would argue differently), especially when it comes to the quality of the message. DEFACED zoned in the best of what extreme Metal could gather and wrapped it into a fine piece of unified unhuman assault.

Frankly, it is difficult to carve up into the flesh of the tunes, things are happening so fast and if you will lose concentration, you might lose yourself in the process. DEFACED aren't waiting for anyone, they feel like a loose cannon, but immensely creepy with their perception of the formation of a new classic. Punishing without remorse, I was obsessed by "Venomous Eden" that molested with its crushing speed and mayhemic lead / rhythm guitar resolution, "Antithesis" that modeled an impressive extreme Metal songwriting, "Rapture Through Bondage" bawled in the arts of the blackened form, "Humanity's Lost Hope" is a piece of desperation and depravity, encrusted with an atmosphere of Black Metal oriented high octane double bass race infused with mid tempo chunky riffery, insane soloing. Truth be told, humanity has to be fearful.

There is a turmoil lurking when listening to "Forging The Sanctuary", an almost mythical type of havoc that is coming back to haunt. I urge you Metalheads to be acquainted with these guys. The elder gods might die one day, and the younger ones would take over. Would it be DEFACED? Depends on you I guess.