Undeath – More Insane (Review)

While the scene is currently dominated by Texas style hardcore influences and the iconic HM2 chainsaw sound, there is one band that has attracted a lot of attention without all these characteristics. Undeath! Founded in 2018, the New Yorkers have already put out two very strong albums. Now they are back from the grave with More Insane, which will be released on October 4th via Prosthetic Records. 

You can tell that Undeath are a kind of modern old school death metal band. However, their influences do not lie in the European sound, as with so many musicians, but rather in the roots of the New York scene. Suffocation and early Cannibal Corpse vibes are definitely deeply anchored in their DNA. 

You can really feel the kind of development that Undeath have undergone since the release of their first record. Right from the start, More Insane sounds much fresher and more innovative than their previous material. The progress is absolutely crazy. With a much wider range of influences, a lot of things seem different compared to the last outputs, but at the same time it still feels like Undeath. 

The production is amazing. With It’s Time…to Rise from the Grave, the band already seemed much bigger and more powerful in terms of sound. But on More Insane they set the bar even higher. Very organic and yet not too sterile. 

“Dead from Beyond” starts with a marching drum groove that would lead any undead to war against humanity. In general, the New Yorkers manage to implement the perfect mix of speed and groove into their songs.  For the listener, the new record is brimming with surprising moments. While you are still banging your head, the next moment you are surprised by a sick guitar solo or a huge mosh part. This is also the strength of More Insane. Both elements are skilfully incorporated into the songs and seem very well thought out. 

Riffs and groove form the foundation of this record. It’s the bread and butter of Undeath. It’s no exaggeration that in terms of song writing it comes very close to greats like Obituary and Cannibal Corpse.

At the same time, this is mixed with more modern influences. “Sutured for War” gives me very strong The Black Dahlia Murder vibes. Characterized by brutal melodies, the song builds and builds until it finally turns into a huge mosh part. Undeath have mastered the mixture of fast pace and mid-tempo.

Alexander Jones‘ intonation and pronunciation while sounding like Swamp Thing himself is remarkable. Of course, it’s death metal and you get the typical lyrics, but Undeath have always stood out from the crowd. Just take the lyrics from the title track More Insane. A guide on how to become a killer. Trapped in your own mind with no hope.

“Disattachment of a Prophylactic in the Brain” and “Wailing Cadavers” are two songs that radiate an unbelievable form of brutality. Especially when the band deliberately take their foot off the gas pedal and switch to mosh mode. The violence increases immeasurably.

The New Yorkers’ third album is the logical evolution of Lesions of a Different Kind and It’s Time…to Rise from the Grave. Undeath are incorporating new elements into their music in a cle(a)ver way while at the same time, well-known strengths such as groove and riffing are further improved.

More Insane is a prime example of how you can develop as a band and still remain true to yourself.