THE NEW PLAGUE

With over a decade spent in the death metal trenches, Northern California's THE NEW PLAGUE has remained largely under the radar. That needs to change, as the band has consistently churned out well written death metal with an old school spirit and a knack for solid songwriting. I remember thinking that the group had a good thing going when I reviewed "Shackled and Enslaved" back in 2002. "Insatiable" not only continues in the quality vein, but it is also easily the best thing the band has ever written and recorded.

Nothing here breaks the death metal mold, but everything is well written and chock full of passion. There isn't a bum track on the disc. While a good portion of the disc is similar to the kind of delivery heard from DRAWN AND QUARTERED and INCANTATION, a decidedly blackened (and serrated) edge is present throughout. Songs like the up-tempo "Welcome to the End" fall squarely into the dirty/doomy death category. It is also one of several songs that include excellent changeups into groovier territory. The best example of that balance between blast beat ferocity and pit-worthy, head banging chug occurs on "The Conqueror", a song with a blackened soul (including alternating black/death vocals from guitarist Adam Whitley) and yet another memorable chorus. That knack for a DM hook continues on "God Can't Save Me", while "Da'ath – The Afterlife" and "Thicker than Blood" come with more killer pace/riff shifts. In other words, THE NEW PLAGUE does a terrific job of keeping things interesting from beginning to end.

Throw in a few light/classical-esque bits (the "Of Demonic Possession" interlude, as well as the "Hells Mouth" intro and a left turn on "Darkness Eternal") and you've got yourself a well round death metal album. Check out THE NEW PLAGUE at www.myspace.com/thenewplague and find out for yourself. As John McEntee (INCANTATION) has argued throughout his career, death metal is about feeling as much as anything else. THE NEW PLAGUE has certainly got feeling and some pretty good songwriting too.