Band: Decrepit Birth
Title: Polarity
Label: Massacre Records
Distribution: Suburban
Release date: 31/08/2010
Review: CD

To be honest: I have never been that thrilled by the Santa Cruz, California-based band Decrepit Birth. Both former releases, done via Unique Leader, are acceptable, but the complete lack of originality, or better: the over-predictability, does derange. And the fact that the members ([*]) are highly experienced cannot help my opinion about it. But as said before: it isn’t but my personal view on it [(*) members on this album: Matt Sotelo-g; Bill Robinson-v; Derek Boyer-b – the latter also involved with, for example, Vital Remains, Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh, Dying Fetus amongst others].

Polarity, the newest recording, stands for an interesting progression, a fine evolution within the band’s history. The early years -I’m referring to the first half of this decennium- were based on a rather Florida-styled old school-oriented form of technical and grinding Death Metal, but throughout the years, the sound became more and more progressive and modern.
This third full length, produced by Matt and well-known knob master Zack Ohren (Immolation, Molotov Solution, Cattle Decapitation, All Shall Perish, Suffocation and many others), lasts for 39:36 minutes. It doesn’t just go on where the former albums, …And Time Begins and Diminishing Between Worlds, ended – on the contrary, this goes further, much further.
There’s more variation, and at the same time more cohesion, between the tracks. There’s more variation in totality. The compositions are much more professional and well-thought. All of them still come with technical precision, yet it has been optimized now. The interaction ‘brutality – subtlety’ sort of winds me (and since I like being fluttered…). The sound has been perfected too… The addition of ‘new’ elements (acoustics, slow parts, etc) isn’t but a surplus. The tracks are, one with another, much stronger and more ingenious than ever before.
Really, this third full length has so much more to offer. The former releases were acceptable, but this one is the first Decrepit Birth-release really worth mentioning. Climbing up, higher and higher, and being above par this time, or: Polarity is the strongest and most mature Decrepit Birth-album to date.

For fans of Death, Suffocation, Atheist, Malevolent Creation, Cynic.

80/100

Ivan Tibos.