NECROPHAGIA “The Divine Art Of Torture” /CD/

The fourth full-length studio album by cult American Death Metal band.
The man known as Killjoy (R.I.P.) was perhaps one of the most prolific members of the Metal community as far as music projects go. Between The Ravenous, Wurdulak, and Necrophagia, you have three bands obsessed with sickening and Gore based imagery. Though musically, all three bands are different. So where does Necrophagia fit in? Well, on "The Divine Art Of Torture" the band is playing Death Metal, with slight touches of Black Metal here and there. However, by Death Metal standards, this isn’t the fastest or most brutal style, instead the band's sound can be compared to "Heartwork" era Carcass at times. So that same kind of mid-paced, thick riff sound is somewhat present; though with Necrophagia’s own interpretation of it.
Along with Killjoy, is almost a super group of sorts. Killjoy handles the vocals and with him on this album are Iscariah on bass (Wurdulak, ex- Immortal); Frediablo on guitars (Gorelord, Wurdulak); Fug on guitars (Soul Forsaken, Wurdulak); Titta Tani on drums (Daemonia); and the biggest surprise of the bunch: Mirai Kawashima on keys from Japan’s Avant-garde Metal masters, Sigh!
The music has its fast parts, but there are almost no blast beats to be found, so most of the music is based more on the horror atmosphere than speed and aggression. For some, this being a relief, because a lot of people are getting tired of Death Metal bands just playing fast for the sake of being fast. There are still plenty of good neck breaking moments with quality usage of double bass, though, and that classic quick start-stop bass pattern that Carcass used to perfection on "Necrotism" and "Heartwork" is present. The guitars are kind of fuzzy and distorted with a heavy tone.
The band is at their best when they focus on concise and eerie song structures. The apparent eerie atmosphere is due in part to the masterful keyboard work. It’s nothing overly technical, but it’s so simple and effective, that it’s almost brilliant. Forget the circus keys of some Symphonic Black Metal bands, because the keyboard sound varies from song to song and usually adds a very weird texture that accentuates the horror theme of the music. Everyone else does their job well, so it looks the band kept things simple on purpose.
There's quite a chunk of Punk or Hardcore influence, only rather than cultivate a Crust, Sludge or Doom centre, Necrophagia channels it directly into a raw, pummelling Death Metal. Riffs are meaty and atrocious, with a raw, Thrashy and Crunchy tone to the rhythm guitars that does get a bit Noisy in the recording. They do delve into some slower, Groovier, Doomy riffs at points, and there are also some really minimalist, bottom of the barrel sorts of Groove/Nu Metal riffs that they clog up some choruses with. Really, though, while a lot of the riffs can feel creatively bankrupt or flat-out predictable, they do suffice at least as a basis from which to launch the keyboards or other effects, not to mention they are angry, violent and abusive enough to compete with Killjoy's savage, tortured barking, forever the hallmark of this project. Unlike a lot of the faceless hordes of bands that fit snugly into some category, when you hear a Necrophagia tune in a radio line-up, you'll go to be pretty sure of who it is, and that's not a bad position to be in.
A horror guru like few others, Killjoy picks some interesting subjects here, like a tune about the "Parasite Eve" video game, or the "Flowers of Flesh and Blood" episode of the "Guinea Pig" torture-porn series. Not the sort of stuff you expect on your average horror-inspired Death Metal album, which will mine the same old slashers from the 80s, and that much is appreciated here. "The Divine Art Of Torture" is certainly one of the Necrophagia records with the most potential and cool concepts!
Season Of Mist, 2003/2012 (SOM 069). Made in France. Pressed in the EU.


Tracklist:
1. Blaspheme the Body 3:12
2. Upon Frayed Lips of Silence 5:08
3. Parasite Eve 3:22
4. Maim Attraction 3:08
5. Rue Morgue Disciple 2:46
6. The Sick Room 4:00
7. Conjuring the Unnamble 3:46
8. Flowers of Flesh And Blood 4:39
9. The Divine Art of Torture 3:12
10. Ze Do Caixao 3:40
Total playing time: 36:53 min.

Samples: https://necrophagia.bandcamp.com/