While the world has become accustomed to crushing death and grind, brave metal warriors continue to challenge the status quo, be it through different instrumentation, experimental arrangements, or avant-garde ideas. Sometimes, though, the beauty is in the simplicity: use the already viable and successful elements in new combinations. Septage has done just that on Septic Worship. While this isn't a sonically unique album, the trio deftly blend death, grind, gore, lo-fi, cleanliness (I know how that reads), and genuine riffage to create a fun, vile, brutal, and shredworthy album. The key to their success is in the portioning, just the right amount of each so that it doesn't become one note. In addition to the correct ratios, timing is important, and Septage nails this as well. Nothing is clunky or off sounding, like there aren't any Altars of Madness style solos or chunk-blasting gore stretches, despite the fact that both coexist on the album. In a genre all about overindulgence, Septic Worship can still fit into its battle vest. 

 

Septic Worship chugs and pummels, moshes and thrashes, all while moving at a pace and evolution to keep from ever feeling tiresome. The drumming works amazingly well at slower speeds as well as fast, and avoids both traps of being soupy and obfuscating or clicky and over-produced. The vocals are solid and add a nice vileness, and the bass chugs right along adding thickness and gravity to the mix. The guitars, though, are the highlight here, as their characteristics change by song and by need. Sometimes they sound like early Carcass, sometimes like Death, sometimes Morbid Angel, and all the spaces in between. Despite the changes, they always fit the song and bring about unavoidable grooving. Above, both "lo-fi" and "cleanliness" were mentioned back to back, and there is reason. Some elements have a "lo-fi" vibe that fuzzes the sound and adds murderous mystery, but overall, the instruments are all clear on their own and their goals and teamwork are easily heard, so this combination is well done and well thought out by whoever was behind the boards.

 

Septage's debut full-length, Septic Worship, is a refreshing treat for those who have been following extreme metal for 30-40 years. Its familiarity but also freshness are both endearing and intriguing, and will most likely cause a pretty quick hit of the "replay" button. In addition, its balance of safeness and experimentation would be recommended for new listeners as well, so Septage is really bridging the gap here. Available on vinyl through Me Saco Un Ojo, CD through Dark Descent, and cassette via Extremely Rotten, many people are making sure that this ripper gets into the hands of as many current listeners and future fans as possible.