Description

Described as a punkish/grind hybrid that delves into the sickest reaches of the cancerous stomach lining, Sweden’s Humanity Delete emerges from the swill and clots the brain with a septic effort called Never Ending Nightmares, which is quite spot-on with its descriptive title. While I can certainly hear some punk elements hidden in the structure (what metal music doesn’t employ these influences?), make no mistake; this is pure, unfiltered death metal that shreds from the first darkened note to the last hellish chord. With mainman Rogga Johansson (Ribspreader, The Grotesquery, Paganizer) displaying some more of the talents that make him an underground death metal legend, Humanity Delete is finally emerging after a decade-long hiatus of sorts. Some of the best death metal in the modern day is finely crafted here, and with the lyrical contributions of Jill Girardi (Dead Beat Media) this album makes for a fascinating and deadly engagement. Girardi’s knowledge and extensive studying of Asian ghostly lore adds the absolute perfect remaining piece to Johansson’s cryptic puzzle, and it was genius to ask for her contributions. Not to be outdone, guitar solos are handled by Hooded Meance’s Lasse Pyykko, and his presence seals the frame around these demented dirges of death. The wait for this release was arduous indeed, but after taking this in for the second time in one morning I can truly say that any true fan of death metal will find this album a soon-to-be classic offering due in large part to its integral approach to the medium and lack of flair for flair’s sake. What you hear is what is intended: ugly, yet lightly polished brutality that hold nothing back and simply pounds on your neck nape with wanton recklessness. From the opening track of “Never Ending Nightmares” the setting is one of foreboding and ill-ease, which had me from the get-go. Once the assault of “The Eight Ice Narakas” takes hold, you know precisely what you’re in for, and it only gets better. Much of the systematic death metal that’s simmering in the underbelly of the movement can be had here in tracks that often take you on a trance-like trip into the speedy and chaotic realms of Rogga’s mindset. When I listen to tracks such as “Dismal Corridors” or “Resurrection Rites”, for example, I immediately catch some early 90’s Swedish trails, but the music doesn’t rely on its geographical history to push across the point; with all of the modern era production touches perfectly in place, Never Ending Nightmare unleashes a torrent of crunchy guitar riffs and gut-curdling growls that would make Kam Lee or Ola from Grave proud. With death metal one simply cannot reasonably expect a Vivaldi approach to structure and arrangement; this music was designed to implement one goal, and that is to take the devil’s chords and turn them into deadly, introspective aneurisms for the willing thinkers. This album does that to a proverbial “T”. Johansson has an innate feel for what makes for great death metal, and this addition to his impressive lineage only solidifies that statement. You won’t get half-assed, opaque efforts in his output at any level. When you listen to “Frozen Apparition” you actually get the feel for some ghostly figure seizing and tormenting you as you vainly flee for your sanity. Jill Girardi adds some of the best lyrics I’ve heard in some time, and that might well be due to my own fascination with the paranormal subject(s). Between the lyrics and the tremendously invasive music underneath, Never Ending Nightmares is to modern death metal what Carach Angren is to modern black metal: a cold and intelligent foray into the recesses of the other worldly phenomenon that befuddles us all. Fans of Bloodbath, The Grotesquery, and pretty much any true death metal outfit that sticks closely to the formula without raping the origins will dig this effort that was long overdue, but well worth the wait. Humanity Delete offers you what every sick mind craves: a twisted, yet intelligent jettison into the depravity and fear that drives us to seek out that which we think we want to find. It’s a trip well worth the effort, by any means inhumanly necessary.

Track list:
1. Never Ending Nightmares-intro
2. The Eight Ice Narakas
3. Black Oil Defiler (Orang Minyak)
4. Necromantic Sorcery
5. The Jenglot
6. Dismal Corridors
7. Resurrection Rites
8. Retribution of the Polong
9. Pontianak Part I
10. The Eight Fire Narakas
11. Frozen Apparition
12. Pontianak Part II