Kingdom Of Worms
Deserted Fear

DESERTED FEAR is a Death Metal band from Germany. Their debut album "My Empire" blew up a lot of dust in 2012, and garnered attention from critics and fellow musicians alike. This review is for their sophomore album, "Kingdom of Worms," and contains eleven tracks. Following a brief intro, "Forging Delusions" sets the opening tone for the album. I hear fairly straightforward Death Metal here. It is riff driven, with a tight, steady bottom end, and anguished Death vocals. The title track brings more of the same vibe. Though a little bit slower and perhaps more intentional, the percussion really seems to drive this piece. "Torn By Hatred" is an interesting interlude. I like the life that the breath of an acoustic piece can bring to an album that is as bottom heavy as this is. Following this, the roar of "The Agony" comes at you full speed. It's a swifter piece with some blast beat and varied drumming, but still driven by the main riff and vocal performance. Somehow I feel this song asserts itself better, and with more confidence. "With Might and Maim" is another strong track, with a slower, grinding, and more swinging riff, that immediately has you tapping your foot and banging your head. I believe the key changes within the chord progressions add an element of creativity here. "Shattering the Soil" might be my favorite track on the album. It starts with an aggressive and dark riff that shows some melody lines within. Closing the album we come to "Last of a Dying Kind." It has a majestic and ominous quality to it, as the title suggests, and there is a little more stretching out of the genre boundaries with the lead guitar work, providing a beacon for the rest of the instruments. The vocals are especially gravely here as well. Overall, as with a lot of Death Metal, I find the album to be right on par with other bands that are out there making this style of music. But, I just don't hear the variation that can set aside a band within this genre. There is no doubting the band's instrumental ability, or the brutality of the music. I just don't hear much in the way of dynamic excitement.
7 / 10
Good

"Kingdom Of Worms" Track-listing:
- Intro
- Forging Delusions
- Kingdom of Worms
- Call Me Your God
- Wrath on your Wound
- Torn by Hatred
- The Agony
- With Might and Maim
- Shattering the Soil
- Mortal Reign
- Last of a Fading Kind
Deserted Fear Lineup:
Manuel Glatter - Vocals, Guitar
Fabian Hildebrant - Guitar, Bass
Simon Mengs - Drums
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