Metal To The Masses: "Strategy of Obsolescence"
February 11, 2011
Producer: Shane Forsyth
Review by: Travis MacLeod
Deathgrind is a genre of music where the technical aspects of Death Metal merge with the intensity of Grindcore. Thus creating one of the most intense and ear shattering sub-genres in the world of Heavy Metal. However, there is one Canadian quartet that while they fit the expectations listed above, they have in my opinion written their own set of rules. That band is Hate Division with their debut full-length album: 2011's "Strategy of Obsolescence".
When listening to this album the first thing I noticed that I thought was really cool, was the way they literally composed the record.
The majority of Deathgrind bands tend to write songs that are usually between 1:30 to 2:30 in length, that contains extreme lead work with a lot of the time rhythm work that is easily overlooked and forgotten. With Hate Division, their song structures more favor Death Metal with the majority of the tracks being over three minutes in length. In my mind however, what truly separates Hate Division from most of their peers is their overall sound.
In Deathgrind most bands go back and forth with their songs. In other words, some songs sound more like Death Metal and some songs sound more like Grindcore. It's a breath of fresh air to see a band like Hate Division find that perfect balance and incorporate it into all their songs. Each tune you come across on this record guitarist Howard Young treats you to some crusty Grind riffs and in a matter of a heartbeat, slaps you across the face with that classic down-tuned traditional Death Metal sound we all know and love. Songs like "Regression of Reality" and "Denialism" showcase this rather well.
It's right about now that I should mention that this band is extremely tight. These guys can stop on a dime going from blasting and riffing frenzies into short, precise, catchy and calculated intervals that really keep you on edge and most importantly keep you guessing throughout the entire record.
The advanced rhythm section of bassist Paul Shaw and drummer Shane Forsyth are the glue that in this case hold these intervals together and are the major points of interest at various sections throughout this album. Tunes like the title track "Strategy of Obsolescence" and "Assimilation Or Death" are two prime examples of this combination hard at work.
Hate Division is a band of many talents and perhaps one of if not the best thing about this record is the vocal performance. I am not joking when I say Sean Wyszynski is quite possibility the best Death vocalist I have come across in a very long time. His sense of timing and phrasing along with his ability to change pitch mid-breath flawlessly is very hard to come by. For their genre of Death-flavored music, Sean is the next best thing to in my opinion the best Death Metal vocalist on the scene, in terms to their style as: George Fisher from the legendary Death Metal band - Cannibal Corpse.
As far as the production is concerned the only thing I would have done a little differently is I would have had the Bass more prominent in the final mix. However, besides my personal preference, drummer Shane Forsyth did an outstanding job with the production. The sound was consistent all the way through, each instrument stood out at all the right parts respectfully and the vocals were not over-shadowed by all the instruments - a very even final mix. Quite honestly, for a debut full-length album that is extremely impressive in my mind.
Finally all I can say is this: Hate Division is a band to be on the look-out for in the years to come. If first impressions mean anything, this band is going to get heavier, more technical and more experimental in their quest to fully create their own niche. This band has all the tools and talent to become a big deal in extreme music. It's just simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
My Killer Kutz: "Assimilation Or Death", "Regression of Reality" and "A Division of Hate"
