Album Review: Defiled – Altered State (Season of Mist)

Tokyo legends, Defiled will release their ninth album, ‘Altered State’, on June 12th via Season of Mist. The album is, musically and lyrically, a direct expansion of ‘The Highest Level’ and ‘Horror Beyond Horror’.

Talk about staying true to yourself, Defiled have proudly and stubbornly refused to change over their many decades of existence and continue to embrace their outsider moniker. They do exactly what they want to do, create the death metal they like, and continue to deliver it in experimental fashion.

Harsh and horrible, it’s the sound of extreme metal that inevitably has limited appeal. Not just because of its unyielding death metal style, but because it comes in such a raw form. It’s a record I find myself liking, not loving, even if it has moments that I do find myself thoroughly enjoying. In particular, the more experimental side of Defiled that does let some groove slip in, showcases layers of heaviness, and does take elements of hardcore and punk and blend it all up into one hell of noisy concoction.

Trust me, across the fourteen tracks of the album, you will be surprised a few times.

That being said, death metal is the focus and regardless of some formula changes, it remains aggressive and intense throughout. Alas, I find the mix a little odd. With the drums being the dominating instrument throughout and the riffs being buried in certain tracks. Thankfully the vocals hold up nicely, and the whole mix does seem to get better later in the album (although that could just be me getting used to it), but it’s not the highest sign of quality. Even if the ‘rough and ready’ style is in keeping with what Defiled do so effortlessly.

What do you want from a modern Defiled album? Or better yet, what do you expect? For me it’s something unrelenting and heavy, something with real bite, and something that leaves you with aches and pains all over. Ideally, that would come with some freshness, and while that latter part might be lacking, it certainly does deliver on the former parts. I just wish I found it a bit more interesting overall.

Defiled – Altered State Track Listing:

1. Dazed in Blindness
2. Altered State
3. Obsession
4. Portal
5. Necro-Force
6. The Degradation
7. Genocidal Stage
8. Metamorphosis of Evil
9. The Ultra Death
10. Zombified
11. Lunatics
12. Prophecies
13. Demolition
14. Apocalyptic End

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