Dew Of Nothing
Doubleweird
[Sempiternal]


Sempiternal has been a label on the up and up of late, with their fortunes being represented by a stellar Arghoslent release (most definitely one of the very best outfits out there at this moment in time), a Hirilorn/Nasav split CD, and now this convincing slab of Mexican death metal. I had my reservations about this label initially, and understandably so, considering they put out that abomination known as the Occultus/Esgaroth split CD (something I find impossible to get rid of dammit, somebody buy it from me!), but it seems as though they’re about to carve a tidy niche for themselves in the underground.

I haven’t been observing the death metal scene with too much vigour of late, what with the American death metal scene becoming a self-parody of sorts with its overly abused use of horror and pornographic imagery. Ah, how one longs for bands who remind of Suffocation, Necrophagia, Impetigo, General Surgery, Autopsy, Sathanas, Abhorer, Grotesque and such. Dew Of Nothing, I feel, captures some of this passion, and instead of subscribing to an overly apparent trend, they peddle their death metal with an unmistakable sense of ingenuity and flair.

This CD doesn’t endeavour to replicate an incredibly stale American sonority, but radiates of a fiercely individual South American sound, with but the slightest hint of Morbid Angel-isms to boot. Shub Niggurath is a band I can definitely draw parallels to, but I don’t think Dew Of Nothing really sounds like any other Mexican band I’ve heard of late. I detect hues of melancholia and brooding even when the band breaks into one of their several piano passages, which intersect the brutal blasting moments quite well I must add. There’s indigenous Mexican orchestration here and there, adding an extra layer of individuality, and the lyrics definitely deviate from the hack n’ slash goregrind variety, reflecting a more esoteric, though rather contrived quality (though what could be more contrived than the perpetual goregrind nonsense?).

The quality on this disc wavers a bit, as it wanes towards the end, the sound is a bit convoluted and the vocals aren’t quite as strong as I’d like them to be, but ultimately I find myself enjoying this disc somewhat thoroughly, and commend them for not falling into the farsical pit that all death metal bands seem to be in these days. If you’re intending on picking up this piece of South American extremity, you had best hurry, because it’s limited to 1,000 pieces. With a little work, Dew of Nothing could be inducted into the same ranks as Shub Niggurath and the Chasm! Sadistic Intent fans take note.

[ 7 ]


© 2000 equimanthorn