Iniquitous Savagery - Edifice of Vicissitudes

Iniquitous Savagery is a brutal death metal band from the United Kingdom, that formed in 2012.  Their latest release, “Edifice of Vicissitudes,” is their second full-length album; they have also released an EP and a demo.

“Edifice of Vicissitudes,” is the band's first album in nearly a decade but they haven't skipped a beat or gone soft. If anything, the album is brutal death metal played in its most straightforward form. That also means it is an honest album that embraces its own sound and does exactly what it needs to do.

Despite its singular vision of providing face-melting brutal crushing, it's a smartly written album with much going for it. It isn't often that an album of this nature has so many details that it becomes a grower that requires patience and multiple listens but here we are.

Among the flesh-ripping slams, virtuous instrumentation abounds with technical flourishes, especially for the bass with absolutely fucking slaps ass. Multiple listens will reveal an album that is more catchy than it has a right to be; the album's 30-minute runtime is filled with riffs and hooks for days.

“Casualty of Diabolical Trial,” is super groovy as technical prowess hooks the riffs together. Bass and drums rip the song apart even as they provide their own building blocks.  I love the slower parts— heavy to the point madness. The galloping double bass in the mid-section is impressive and ignites an already large fire to a full-on inferno.

“Choked Before First Breath,” is a smorgasbord of tasty slamming jams. The movements at 1:10 and 2:35 reveal just how well-composed this album is. There isn't anything here that doesn't belong—every strangled note and guttural serves a sinister purpose. In essence, it isn't an album that is brutal for shock value but an album that uses the uncompromising nature it naturally presents as a very effective tool. 

“Narcotic Exsanguination,” is an interesting song, which it's unique vocal approach in the beginning. The growls and grunts are so deep they become one with the instruments--this is a massive, towering wall of sound.  Slamming grooves make it a catchy one too…if you think BDM can't (or shouldn't) be catchy then this song will change your mind even as your body is crushed.

“Bio-Digital Convergence in the Fourth Industrial Age,” ends the album as one of its best songs.  The pinch harmonics add a Sci-fi flavor to the song but not enough to take away from its effective use of nonstop riffage. The slow down at the halfway Mark is so filthy so against the grain that I nearly cried tears of joy. The volume of the song rises up as it ends in a massive sprawl of death. One hell of a way to end the album!

Iniquitous Savagery's “Edifice of Vicissitudes,” is a fantastic late-year discovery for me. The band manages to put their own spin despite being zeroed in on capturing the essence of the genre.