On April 24, 2020,
UNMERCIFUL released “
Wrath Encompassed.”
UNMERCIFUL is a brutal death metal band from Kansas. Formed back in 2001, “
Wrath Encompassed” marks the band’s third release. Their debut album “
Unmercifully Beaten” was released in 2006, followed by lineup changes and a hiatus from 2009 to 2012. After the hiatus, the band returned with “
Ravenous Impulse,” which included the drumming of
John Longstreth from fellow Kansan band,
ORIGIN.
Though I was not familiar with
UNMERCIFUL prior to this album, when I first heard “
Wrath Encompassed,” I was reminded of bands like
SUFFOCATION and
DYING FETUS. Like those bands,
UNMERCIFUL is relentlessly brutal and heavy. This kind of album doesn’t require a track by track review, nor does it require multiple listens to get the gist of each track. Tracks have a similar brutal sound, with similar intense riffs played at similar fast speeds. Blast beats consistently provide a background wall of sound. Some of the tracks feature short solos that get in and out quickly, without any lasting effect. Growls are low to mid-range, with dual growling vocals in a few places throughout the album.
“
The Incineration” gets a special mention as an intro track that shows the full force of the album within a few seconds. The first track that stood out to me was the third, “
Predator to Prey.” Towards the end, chuggy riffs slow down the pace without losing any heaviness. A sweeping riff in “
Carnage Unleashed” took me by surprise, as it was probably the most melodic part of the album, albeit one that took less than 30 seconds total. “
Furious Precision” does its title justice. The band does play furiously and with precision on this track. The last minute is like a machine gun of riffs and blast beats.
Overall, I recommend this album to fans of straightforward brutal death metal. There are no overly technical or melodic riffs, but there doesn’t need to be. “
Wrath Encompassed” has a classic heaviness that isn’t flashy. The album is just a brutally good time.
Songwriting: 6
Musicianship: 7
Memorability: 5
Production: 7