Crushing, hammering, and shredding, Drawn and Quartered's 2000 debut has lost none of its edge over the past two-plus decades. While the production and engineering may be a product of its time, the clarity of the recording and the instrumentation give To Kill Is Human a timelessness that many death metal bands only dream of. For those unfamiliar with the act, their brand of heavy death metal puts an emphasis on medium-high speed, letting the percussion reach its fevered pitch organically, fitting time and tempo in naturally. In addition to giving the album a better flow, this keeps the instruments where they need to be in the mix, without having one outshadow the other. While this era may have been close to the start of "Speed Uber Alles," Drawn and Quartered let their playing and writing speak for itself, and let the decimation take hold without any extra flash. That's not to say that this album is lacking in any respect, just that it's solid, no frills approach works superbly with the band's style, and To Kill Is Human comes out like a WWII era tank - strong, heavy, and capable of crushing you to bits if you're not prepared. Along with the propulsive drumming, the bass chugs up and down the fretboard, bridging the space between skins and shred, thickening the album immensely while still adding delightful character. Most notable on the breakdowns, these heavy strings increase the urgency and remind the listener that only their headphones stand between them and being run over. Add to this the old school riffing, and To Kill Is Human becomes an almost textbook example of death metal.

 

Originally released in 2000, Drawn and Quartered's To Kill Is Human has been brought back from the depths by Moribund Records. Limited to 500, this CD will delight any death metal fans, but more specifically, those partial to the old school sound like Incantation, Embalmer, Cannibal Corpse, et al. While 2000 still seems like four or five years ago to many (raises hand), it has been twenty-three years since To Kill Is Human's initial release, and although it doesn't sound as smooth as something brand new, it still crushes with its honesty, brutality, and arrangement.