Calling upon multiple generations of pure death metal canon for their ‘ready well-formed amalgam Nevada-borne death metal trio DISHUMANE present a high standard for the craft on this impressive debut EP. Suggested as a preambulatory strike at things to come ‘Centurion’s Demise‘ is a quick yet dense haul comprised of three songs meant to invoke both 90’s and early 2000’s standards for ‘old school’ death metal and the brutality that’d evolved beyond. Though their ratio leans heaviest toward the former all choices herein bode well for things to come and particularly if you are a student of the older, better ways.

Dishumane began as a solo project from guitarist/vocalist James Shanks under the name Sadistic Malevolence wherein the first pass had been a blackened death/thrash style, something closer to Nunslaughter or nearby (per sole single “Die In Vain…“). In the space of a few years he’d linked up with Dave Procopio who I assume (?) was the original drummer from Plague Bearer back in the early 90’s but could be wrong. At that point I don’t think they’d changed the name yet but stylistically their conjoined vision moved towards pure death metal reflecting a love for ‘old school’ USDM structure and technique as well as brutal death metal’s overwhelming volatility. From what I gather they’d had a ton of material worked up quickly and from there networking with Charlie Koryn (Ascended Dead, et al.) and Chuck Sherwood (Incantation, Balefire) would become instrumental in both producing and performing the material we find on ‘Centurion’s Demise‘. Reading between the lines here I assume both this EP and an impending full-length were probably completed within the same sessions and with Koryn engineering as well as drumming.

The general stylistic goal of Dishumane isn’t conceptually far from that of groups like Vile Apparition or Hyperdontia in recent years wherein the brutality that’d existed within the early-to-mid 90’s classics is showcased via structured songcraft rather than the vibe-trading a lot of ‘old school’ inspired death metal bears today. The main difference between their efforts and those suggested peers lies less in their amalgam’s ratio and moreso key inspiration taken from later 90’s/early 2000’s brutal death as well as the atmospheric values of stuff like Incantation. The result isn’t straight up caverncore nor is it a ‘Conquering the Throne‘ clone but instead something akin to ‘To Kill is Human‘-era Drawn and Quartered if they’d taken more interest in earlier Glen Benton type vocal diction. The release’s sole preview track “Centurion’s Demise” should justify all of these semblances and observations in one shot.

Opener “Conquering the Forlorn” is by comparison more of an imposing ‘old school’ grinder out of the gates, taking a simple riff progression and building around it with tempo play and variations which reflect the more percussive side of early brutal death metal (see: ~2:18 minutes in.) I don’t know that this hits like anything new and/or maniacal outright but it does read as authentic enough per Dishumane‘s general style given character by pinch harmonic tipped riffs and abysm-shot blasts. Closer “Soul Spun Malice” otherwise takes on pretty clear inspiration from Deicide‘s earlier stuff in its primary vocal cadence and riff, making for some of the best runs and leads found on the EP, but also branches out into headier atmospheric death movement as well. The flow from song to song here is nothing special but the pieces themselves arrive at a high standard and with a great dark death metal sound.

Taken in as a ~15 minute first strike with strong aesthetic and sonic design ‘Centurion’s Demise‘ achieves a brilliant standard, an overall ideal first impression for Dishumane‘s efforts. Though the main event here is pretty clearly the title track and its more congested aggression but taken as a whole their efforts here do well to represent ‘old school’ death metal standards and millennial brutality at a choice ratio. If they end up pushing the riff count and throwing in a few more leads on their next one they’ll easily eclipse this already fine work but taken as is this is exceptional work. A high recommendation.

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