Fulci - Duck Face Killings

Fulci is a brutal death metal band from Italy, who formed in 2013.  “Duck Face Killings” is their fourth full-length; they have also released two demos, a compilation, a split, boxed set, and two collaborations.  

The band takes its namesake from Lucio Fulci, a legendary Italian horror film movie maker.  As such, it should come of no surprise that “Duck Face Killings,” is based on Lucio’s 1982 Giallo film “The New York Ripper.”  I’ve never seen any of his movies, nor do I care to do so as I’m just not much of a horror film fan.  I’m just here for the death metal that “Duck Face Killings” so aptly delivers. 

Gory, violent lyrics, brutal growls, and savage music is all contained within the 14 song, 32 minute long album.  It’s a very brief album in many respects but it’s also the perfect length for death metal of this style.  I wouldn’t want a Fulci album that it’s 100% uncompromising—”Duck Face Killings” ups it to 200%.

With that being said, there are still several surprising moments on the album, pieces of music that most bands of this brutal nature would never have the balls to try and, if they did, it wouldn’t be as successful as what’s presented here. “A Blade In The Dark,” and closing song, “Il miele del diavolo,”  are both synth ridden instrumentals.  Perhaps on their own they might seem out of left field but in context of the album’s atmosphere they fit right in among the depraved carnage.

Perhaps the most jarring song is, “Knife,” because it features rap-style vocals from Lord Goat of Non-Phixion.  I don’t know who that is but he brings the same energy to the song that exists throughout the album.  The song is still heavy, dark, and profane--huge successful. 

Elsewhere, the album is about what one would expect from Fulci, which is top tier brutal death.  The opening track, “Vile Butchery,” has a catchy groove built upon tight riffs and held together by bass that absolutely slaps.  The sudden burst of unbridled violence around the the 1:24 mark that slides effortlessly back into the groove laden monstrous riffs is the band at their best.

I don’t know what it’s like to experience being “Fucked With A Broken Bottle,” and hopefully I never will, but I assume the song is the perfect soundtrack for such an experience.  The melodic mid section is a nice touch, another dimension of sound from a band that successes at whatever they want to throw at the listener.

“Maniac Unleashed” is a song made of desperate energy and music that balances melody with rowdy, bloodthirsty death metal.  The cadence of the vocal delivery makes this another earworm of a song but the riffs standout just as well.

“Human Scalp Collection,” and the title track offers the best one two punch on the album.  The former is one of the more straightforward songs in a way but the blood covered notes glisten during the melodic mid-section.   The title track slows it down a bit, letting the atmosphere creep out from the riffs like a stalker bursting from the shadows.

The slower tempos are something the band excels at but their speed that pushes them into these more intricate realms makes it all the better; “Stabbed, Gutted, and Loved” exemplifies this, with the first half the song building up to the melodic dirge that finishes out the rest of the minutes.

Fulci’s “Duck Face Killings,” is as brave and unconventional in places as it is brutal and terror ridden.  I’ve no doubt this album will propel them to the next level and garner them many new fans.