Get ready to be stunned by one of the most devastating albums of 2020, showcasing a solid fusion of masterful songwriting and skull-smashing brutality executed with blinding speed and power.

After releasing their groundbreaking debut album Evil Upheaval in 2018, Perth, Australia-based Death Metal horde Depravity are taking things to the next level on their new album, beautifully entitled Grand Malevolence, one of the most devastating albums of 2020. Technically evolved, showcasing a solid fusion of masterful songwriting and skull-smashing brutality executed with blinding speed and power, and embraced by an ass-kicking artwork by Russian artist Alex Tartsus (Sepulchral Curse, De Profundis), Grand Malevolence is a testament to the best expression this style holds, showcasing facets of the sub-genres without allowing it to dilute the overall intensity and momentum, all thanks to the undeniable talent by Jamie Kay (Inanimacy, The Ritual Aura) on vocals, Lynton Cessford (Entrails Eradicated) and Jarrod Curly (Malignant Monster) on the guitars, Ainsley Watkins (Scourge) on bass and Louis Rando (Impiety, The Furor) on drums, turning it into a must-have for admirers of the pummeling Death Metal blasted by giants such as Suffocation, Morbid Angel, Nile, Spawn of Possession, Gorgasm and Immolation, just to name a few.

Indulging Psychotic Thoughts is gruesome and devastating form the very first second, where Jamie doesn’t waste any time and begins barking deeply accompanied by the machine gun-like drums by Louis in an awesome display of classic Death Metal, and the band keeps blasting sheer animosity and vile sounds in the title-track Grand Malevolence, with the band’s guitar duo Lynton and Jarrod showcasing all their passion for extreme shredding while Louis continues to impress with his demented drumming. Then get ready to have your spinal cord smashed to tiny pieces in Invalid Majesty, where Depravity invite us all to kill into the circle pit, with Jamie sounding even more inhumane with both his deep guttural and deranged screams, not to mention the song’s wicked guitar solos; whereas investing in a Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel-inspired sonority the quintet fires the obscure and visceral Cantankerous Butcher, an ode to all things Death Metal where Aisnley’s bass jabs and Louis’ vicious beats provide Jamie all he needs to vociferate demonically. If you think Depravity are tired of so much violence, they continue their immoral path of devastation in Trophies of Inhumanity, another brutal creation by the quintet showcasing Lynton and Jarrod’s usual guitar duel, firing depraved riffs and solos amidst a hurricane of blast beats and evil gnarls.

Depravity Grand Malevolence Wooden Coffin-Shaped CD Box Set (Limited to 100)

Sounding like a stone crusher from hell, the band smashes everything and everyone that crosses their way in Castrate the Perpetrators, a song led by the destructive riffs by the band’s ruthless guitarists perfect for cracking your neck in half headbanging like a maniac, followed by The Coming of the Hammering, carrying a stunning name for a devastating sound by Depravity, obviously living up to the legacy of old school Death Metal without sounding outdated at all, where Jamie and Louis are in absolute sync with their respective roars and infernal beats. After such intense tune, it’s time more insanity and violence in the form of putrid Death Metal made in Australia in Barbaric Eternity, where those guys sound unstoppable and merciless with their killing instruments, not to mention I have no idea how Louis managed to stay so violent throughout the whole album. Anyway, are you tired already? Because Depravity still have a lot of fuel to burn starting with Hallucination Aflame, presenting their usual sonic devastation full of fulminating beats and fills, scorching riffs and rumbling bass lines, followed by the somber Epitome of Extinction, where the band delivers tons of groove and intricacy before going mental once again, with Ainsley giving a lesson in groove on bass. And lastly, an atmospheric, phantasmagorical start permeates the air, suddenly exploding into their venomous Death Metal in Ghosts in the Void, where Lynton and Jarrod take the lead with their neck-breaking riffage, therefore putting a beyond violent ending to the album.

It’s time to slam into the pit to the fulminating Death Metal blasted by Depravity, and in order to do so simply go check what those depraved metallers from Down Under are up to on Facebook and on Instagram, and above all, purchase your copy of the insane Grand Malevolence from their own BandCamp page, from the Transcending Obscuity Records’ webstore by clicking HERE or HERE (and if I were you, I would definitely go for the Wooden Coffin-Shaped CD Box Set, limited to 100 copies in coffin-shaped wooden box with engraving of the band logo and containing a12-panel inverted cross-shaped digipak CD with metallic effect and embossing, an autographed certificate, a gold logo patch, a fridge magnet and a badge), from Apple Music or from Amazon. Depravity are ready to smash us all like a beast with Grand Malevolence, proving once and for all Death Metal will always remain strong, vile, gory and, of course, brutal.

Best moments of the album: Grand Malevolence, Cantankerous Butcher and The Coming of the Hammering.

Worst moments of the album: Hallucination Aflame.

Released in 2020 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Indulging Psychotic Thoughts 4:08
2. Grand Malevolence 3:25
3. Invalid Majesty 4:17
4. Cantankerous Butcher 4:43
5. Trophies of Inhumanity 5:03
6. Castrate the Perpetrators 5:02
7. The Coming of the Hammering 5:34
8. Barbaric Eternity 3:04
9. Hallucination Aflame 3:51
10. Epitome of Extinction 4:36
11. Ghosts in the Void 5:24

Band members
Jamie Kay – vocals
Lynton Cessford – guitar
Jarrod Curly – guitar
Ainsley Watkins – bass
Louis Rando – drums