There are differences between traditional Death Metal and Old School Death Metal. Even with both tendencies having the same influences and sharing some elements, the main on is: traditional Death Metal can use modern outfits, and Old School Death Metal is bounded to limits of the past (even using better productions that those ones from the past). It’s a matter of experience to understand such a difference, and maybe once can have a good idea of them when listening to “Chitin”, the new album of the Russian (now based at Norway) band DEFECT DESIGNER.

The sonority of “Chitin” sounds aggressive and nasty, in a way that sounds as a ‘do it yourself’ production. It’s rough and crude, respecting all the elements of the genre, with brutal instrumental tunes and guttural grunts being understood. It was done wisely, but the band could use better instrumental tunes. And the artwork contrasts with the music heard, in a good work of Ian Miller. And as guests, here are Eugene Ryabchenko (drummer of FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE playing drums parts) and Björn “Speed” Strid (of SOILWORK, THE NIGHTFLIGHT ORCHESTRA and others on the vocals on vocals on “Shine Shine”).

The band works on a technical form into traditional Death Metal, drawing influences from English, North American and Swedish Death Metal Schools, and mixing them all to create a personal work. It’s aggressive and nasty, but with a good technical level, and many rhythmic contrasts (some Progressive Death Metal elements can be heard during many moments, especially on “We Will Need Your Chitin”), but noisy and full of extreme Metal hooks. Well, Death Metal fans will love the album for sure.

The band shows a good work on the songs of “Chitin”, with 12 songs that are able to make ears whistle for hours. But for an initial ride on the album, “Uglification Spell” (an aggressive and technical song based on nasty grunts and intense drumming), “To Ziggurat” (where some Progressive Death metal-like technical parts are heard on the rhythmic contrasts), “We Will Need Your Chitin” (the disturbing intro becomes a bonecrushing song with a touch of Thrash/Death Metal moments, with good bass parts), “We Prescribe” and “Certainty After the Kafkaesque Twist” (two true Death Metal bombing with many technical parts and very good riffing from the guitars), “Shine Shine” (very good contrasts on the vocals tunes into a more hardcorized song that shows some melodies), “Insomnia” (this one shows clear North American Death Metal traits on its slower moments) and “Orgone Accumulator” will do the right presentations.

The songs are alright, but the band needs a better sonority next time. For now, “Chitin” is a good release, and shows that DEFECT DESIGNER has potential to grow.