Defacement - Doomed - review
Defacement - Doomed - review
Tracklist
01. Mournful02. Portrait
03. Unexplainable
04. Forlorn
05. Worthless
06. Unrecognised
07. Clouding
08. Absent
A review by
AndyMetalFreak September 01, 2025
Dutch trio Defacement (formerly Deathcrush) are at the most extreme end of the metal spectrum, with a style that typically pushes the boundaries of blackened death, deliberately tormenting listeners' minds with insufferable dissonance and unorthodox arrangements. It often requires a certain individual to fully appreciate and understand what this band is all about, but those perhaps more open-minded, and well-accustomed to the avant-garde side of extreme metal will more likely uncover what hidden treasures are lurking beneath the seemingly unrelenting wall of extreme brutality and dissonance. This is the case with their 4th full-length offering Doomed.
As expected, Doomed is quite an uncomfortable listen to endure. Defacement self-describe it as a blend of visceral power and raw intimacy that navigates sonic territories between ambience and extreme dissonance. It's a deeply disorienting 40-minute journey through one's fractured mind, one which uncovers deeply emotional and desolate soundscapes over the course of its duration. The avant-garde song-structures combine elements of dissonant blackened death and doom, with ambient passages and spoken word.
The lyrical content reflects on a tormented mind that's caught in a constant loop of self-denial, metaphysical questioning, and rejection of superficiality. In theory, the music is a psychological reckoning which, despite its unforgiving nature, acts as therapy, confession, and confrontation to fill the cracks between its structure and collapse, and in turn, heals one's tormented mind and soul. However, you simply don't need to understand this complex concept, but rather feel it.
The album catches you off-guard immediately as the hauntingly disturbing intro "Mournful" sets a disturbingly dark atmosphere in motion, and there are times when atmospheric moments such as this creep in unexpectedly. However, it isn't long until a more familiar side of this band is unleashed. Forsaken Ahmed growls and howls like a terrifying savage beast, accompanied on occasion by eerie spoken word. The guitars of Khalil Azagoth consist of his trademark distorted wailing leads and ferociously dissonant tremolo's. Ahmed then drives the rhythm through his heavy pulsating bass, alongside drummer Bestia, who pounds away frantically from complex to manic blast-beats. "Unexplainable" is richly layered and complexly structured through a variety of elements including progressive, technical death, post-black, and even psychedelic, and is a prime example of how far they've now come in terms of musicianship.
Previous albums have shown Defacement as one the most inaccessible and uncomfortable bands to get into out there, but certain pleasures can always be uncovered throughout their music after several concentrated spins. However, the songwriting on Doomed feels somewhat more complete. The technicality and brutality is evenly balanced out, and the atmospheric parts don't shy away from any of the album's intensity or heaviness. The production is immaculate once again, each element is crisp, clear, and right where it needs to be in the mix in order to shine. There's a sense that they've really gone to town on deciding how they could coincide the theme with the music, and they've succeeded in bringing everything together with more conviction.
Defacement have released another challenging listen, but it can be a rewarding one if given the right time it needs to sink in. It might not need the same level of time and concentration as previous offerings either, which might make it a slightly less daunting experience for those not as well accustomed to the dissonant/avant-garde side of extreme metal.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 7 |
| Songwriting: | 7 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written on 01.09.2025 by
Written on 01.09.2025 by
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