Nervecell - Psychogenocide

(CD Album Review)

****

Supreme Death Metal from Dubai

Originally released in 2011 to critical acclaim Nervecell’s 'Psychogenocide' has been reissued this year on Lifeforce Records presumably (hopefully) to pave the way for a new album. 'Psychogenocide' is a well balanced Death Metal album that ticks all the right boxes. It’s a rare occurrence to get a Death Metal album that hits the right spot and has a little for everyone. So often nowadays a band leans too far in one direction be it too technical, brutal or too melodic etc. Nervecell don’t have this problem. Every track is well thought out and everything is in its right place. The band take the brutality of Deicide or even Bolt Thrower and just when the song needs a little melody or a perfectly placed solo one only needs to look at a track like 'All eyes on Them'. We then get a plummeting on a track like 'Amon Doctrine'.

The band also use eastern interludes to here and there, which gives the obvious Nile reference point but seeing that the band are from Jordan and India this is all the more authentic, and yes Karl Sanders from Nile does make an appearance on 'Shunq'. The production is excellent, giving nice studio sheen while retaining the songs heaviness not to mention the musicianship is stunning!. Pick any delicious solo you like guitarist’s Barney Ribeiro or Rami Mustafa the album is full of them not to mention a great drum performance from Dave Haley (Aborted, Pestilence). Vocalist James Khazaal gives a deep but overpowering growl. Nervecell along with Abysmal Dawn and Dead Congregation are taking Death Metal into the future, their sound is rooted in the classic era while looking ahead. The brutality of Deicide, the atmosphere of Immolation and the melody of later day Death what more can you ask for?