When I received the following email: “We have music for review: BESIEGER – Honor In Obliteration. Battle-scarred death metal warfare in the vein of ASPHYX and BOLT THROWER. To those who respond… with daring, with outrage, with insolence, with arrogance… we salute you!!! And if you do NOT respond? Then to HELL with you!”, I thought, “I’m not old enough to go to hell just yet, there are still so many things I need to do, among other stuff, too. Let me get this review done, what’s the harm…”
BESIEGER is a death metal duo from Boston, a city that, to be honest, aside from SIEGE and ANAL CUNT, isn’t particularly known for bands that have made their big signature in grindcore or death metal. Nevertheless, on November 1st, BESIEGER will release their debut EP with four tracks, totaling 12 minutes, available in both digital format and on cassette.
This is pretty solid death metal, with some elements that strongly resemble not only MOTÖRHEAD and VENOM but also SLAYER. Although I mentioned in one of the previous reviews that I don’t like comparing bands, BESIEGER’s sound transported me back to my childhood, especially with the aforementioned influences. The raw, gritty production kicks off right from the first track, “Mortarstorm”. In just over two minutes, it features sinister screams, relentless drumming that pounds throughout the entire track, and solos that, while not intrusive, are subtle enough not to bother those who aren’t fans of solos.
“Rancorous Campaign” follows the first song and, although 20 seconds longer, (unfortunately) slows down in the middle, dragging you along until the end.
Similarly, the third track, “Inevitable Annihilation”, maintains the aggression with a slower one-minute intro before sharp riffs and guttural vocals kick in, reminiscent of classic old-school death metal.
The final track, “Honor In Obliteration”, serves as the EP’s climax, stretching out to four minutes, making it the longest song on the release. It opens with a brooding, almost atmospheric build-up, letting the tension rise before launching into an unrelenting death metal attack. The guitars churn again with crushing riffs that are both heavy and intricate, while the drums pound relentlessly, driving the track forward with a brutal precision. The vocals are at their most venomous here, delivering a fierce and guttural performance that perfectly complements the dark, warlike themes of the song.
So, BESIEGER spared me from going to hell, at least for now. Instead, they gave me a short but intense musical experience that took me back to the days when I was a kid and death metal was one of those things I needed to get through the day. “Honor In Obliteration” is an EP that doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but what it does – it does uncompromisingly. If you enjoy raw production, aggressive riffs, and that feeling of being trapped in an endless battlefield, BESIEGER is here to guide you through it. And yes, I’m still not ready for hell, but if they keep this up, I might just change my mind…
