Devangelic – Ersetu (Review)

This is the third album from Italian death metallers Devangelic.

Over the years Devangelic have proven their worth to the gods of brutality, (Resurrection Denied and Phlegethon), but now they’re back with a further 32 minutes of brutal worship, and they’ve stepped up their game considerably. The Devangelic of 2020 is a murderously developed beast.

At its core this is an album of cold, heartless butchery. It’s an almost-relentless blastathon, with the band only slowing down to indulge in some mid-paced carnage here and there. Don’t let that put you off, however, as there’s more on offer here than on many ostensibly similar releases.

Devangelic have expanded their repertoire on Ersetu, and the results speak for themselves. There are some ripping solos, and even the occasional bout of melody, although the latter is a strictly monitored and controlled substance in Devangelic’s world, only to be used in select circumstances. There are even occasional moments of nuance and atmosphere, which I wasn’t expecting, but are most welcome. As well as the songs as a whole, the vocalist sounds better than ever too. His range of growls, screams, and grunts has widened, and his voice sounds simply monstrous. He’s clearly pushed himself as a singer.

When the moments of melody appear, or the non-hyperspeed parts, or some of the rare nuanced or atmospheric bits, then these just add to the overall quality package that the band have to offer. These, coupled with the strong vocal performances, all help the album avoid the sense of numbing monotony that some brutal death metal can fall victim to. Yep, it’s clear that the band have put some thought into their music, and have chosen to enhance it with a variety of these value-added components. It works really well.

Combined with its tight delivery and crisp, punchy sound, Devangelic sound on fire. Even if you’re not normally a fan of this style of ultra-brutality, then it’s possible that Ersetu might still sway you to its cause. For those already steeped in the worship of the merciless aggression of brutal death metal, Devangelic have produced what’s likely their strongest and best work yet.

So good. So very, very good.