Seething in the grim shadows of the underworld since their 2009 début, Death March Fury, Masachist's ire has continued to intensify. For some, three years is a long time to wait for a sophomore effort, but with their début appearing four years after the band formed (and two years after their one and only demo), it appears that Masachist has always taken the time to ensure that what they do release is as damaging as they can make it.
As an opening track, 'Drilling Nerves', with its string of deathcore-like chugs, is misleading as it's no real indication of what's to come. Though the keys bring an ominous edge and a sense of foreboding early in the album and Thrufel's lead-work is incredible, it's a fairly impressive track that's a far cry from the band's strengths that begin to emerge in 'The Process of Elimination' onward. This second track marks a shift in dynamic as Masachist's capability for ruthless and uncompromising violence comes to the fore. The riffs manifest themselves in all kinds of contorted, distorted, and malformed shapes, and Pig's lacerated throat is given the support it needs to make the tracks as a whole that much harsher and hard-hitting. 'Manifesto (100% D.M.K.M.)' is another of the most impressive tracks here, its voluminous dimensions and tormented lead work demanding submission to its might. The blastbeats of 'Opposing Normality' are woven into a bunch of catchy grooves that are as frenetic as they are formidable. 'Liberation' cranks it up with the band's determination to stay in the high gears and tear the fretboard apart and slam the shit out of the drums, all the time with an eye on combining technicality with muscle. The atmospheric 'Liberation part II' provides a short haunting interlude before the climax of 'Inner Void', this seven and a half-minute track sees Masachist push themselves by taking in all of the dynamic aspects of the band into an elaborately structured piece that is as diverse as it is ambitious. The crisp production gives the album a harsh edge, allowing the razored riffs to cut through, the kick drum click to deliver its mule-like kick, and the full impact of the tracks to be painfully suffered.
Scorned does have its flaws and there are moments when the album loses its bite – what album doesn't? – but these flaws are outweighed by the band's technical and compositional abilities and the album's brusque atmospherics. Worth the wait? Yeah, but in the meantime, if it means waiting another three years for Masachist to deliver album number three, they've got a fair bit of work to do.
Track Listing:
- Drilling The Nerves
- The Process Of Elimination
- Straight And Narrow Path
- Manifesto (100% D.M.K.M.)
- Higher Authority
- Opposing Normality
- Liberation
- Liberation part II
- Inner Void
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