Who would have said such a nice-looking logo (some would say lettering) should stand for such a nice-sounding brutal band… BRODEQUIN, the American Brutal Death Metallers, are back from their creatively brutal grave, after three years of silence.
Thematically, the album title follows the concept of the previous two: Instruments of Torture and Festival of Death. We are now given a further look into different Methods of Execution, eleven ways to annihilate the mind and body whilst still being in euphoria for such a brilliant album.
Formed in late 1998 by Jamie Bailey, Michael Bailey and Chad Walls, set to break the grounds of aggressiveness, brutality and bestiality, BRODEQUIN started out with a sold out 4-track demo, followed by Instruments of Torture, released by now inactive Ablated Records, and Festival of Death. Shortly after the latter release, the band parted ways with Chad Walls, who was to be replaced by Jon Engman (and the band did not lose on the drums department).
The first couple of albums (Festival of Death and Instruments of Torture) were good enough, but none of them transpired an essence of security, maturity and unrelenting brutality to the extreme. The drummer was held as one of the fastest on earth, still that was not quite enough to catapult BRODEQUIN to the premiere league of Brutal music.
It does by no means mean that the band was not held in esteem and seen as a combo with a lot of potential. Methods of Execution is simply the confirmation of every possible hope in the band – and proves the band to be tightly set, with heavy structured songs that will blow your head off the moment you start listening. Methods is Death incarnate under the shape of growls, blast beats, double bass, amazing riffing.
Self-proclaimed as the Death Metal album you’ve always wanted to hear but was so far not in the market, this was a startling warning and I certainly felt doubtful as to the true value of Methods of Execution until I put it on my stereo and was absolutely blown away by the brutality. I would still not go to such lengths as to subscribe to the official version, but the fact remains that this is highly explosive stuff.
The new songs wreak havoc. Period. I could write endlessly about how good and well-structured the latest album is, but that would be needless repetition of an obvious fact. Jon Engman is good, and ally the guy’s competence to catchy songs that remain in your head after the 3rd spin – and Methods of Execution is bound to be one of the hot albums of the year 2005.
In addition to eleven tracks of fierce Death Metal power, there is a videoclip of the song Slaves to the Pyre (opener). Well worth the investment!
Myspace Thebrodequin
Cover Brodequin – Methods of Execution Front
Brodequin – Punishment Without Mercy