Embrional - Tendencies for Self-Destruction

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Embrional is a death metal band from Poland, who formed in 2003. Their latest album, “Inherited Tendencies for Self-Destruction,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released three demos and two splits. 

Over the last few weeks, I have reviewed doom, melodic, and technical death metal albums. I enjoyed each one but sometimes I just want something that drops pretenses and offers up a huge slab of straight up death metal.  

Is the latest Embrional release that album? Yes but it is also more. This isn’t just mere, simple ‘caveman’ death metal but a well rounded, deftly composed romp through fields of desolation. It does a little bit of everything the genre has to offer while not really sticking to any one style other than their own. 

The tone on the instruments is perfect for what I want in death metal: menacing, sinister, and massive as hell. The riff based structures contain a lot of groove but the band is zeroed in for ultimate crushing so even at it’s most groovy it still offers up the audio equivalent of being fucked by a sledgehammer.  

Check out the pure evil sounds of the opening song, “The World Deserves Self-Destruction.” The guitars are worthy of the misanthropic lyrics and the deserved pain of the human race is pounded by the bass and drums, both of which have as much power as an army. This song is surprisingly catchy, what with the vocal patterns and riffs that get more and more aggressive. The groove in the later half is a destroyer, the band firing on all cylinders.

But, then again, the album never displays the band at anything less than 200%. “Seduced by the Lies,” sees them playing around with a slower tempo for about 45 seconds. It’s an ominous opening to the song and makes the fast paced brutality that arrives afterward all the more dangerous.  

The riffs are maddening as the song approaches the halfway mark—this band just doesn’t let up! Little bursts of melody from the lead guitar highly the doomy rhythm guitars as the songs wings back and forth between these atmospheric moments and pulverzing ones. The song ends with a pretty slick guitar solo too. 

"Suicide Journey,” is a sick, twisted song that begins with a slower paced intro—it’s disgusting and full embraces the album’s dark nature. The band returns to this more melancholic style throughout the song while also throwing in moments of carnage. The last minute a half or so is fantastic—I love the rhythm and solo that ends the song.

“Sadistic Desire,” is one of the shorter, more straightforward songs on the album but a strong representation on just how heavy and against the grain the band can get. I found the drums to be particularly arresting, especially the hi-hats/cymbals.  

The album ends on another rager, “Obilteration Rites.” The atmosphere of this song is slithering and slimy, I almost felt like I had to take a shower when I was finished. One of the best moments on the album hits at the 2:36 mark…..those riffs! Are the walls coming down? If they do, this song needs to be the soundtrack.  

Embrional’s “Inherited Tendencies for Self-Destruction,” is a hugely satisfying extreme metal album with a blistering approach to death metal and riff based song structures. Any fans of the genre need this is their collection for sure. 

Rating: Great









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