MALEVOLENT CREATION — Retribution (review)

MALEVOLENT CREATION — Retribution album cover Album · 1992 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Retribution" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US death metal act Malevolent Creation. The album was released through Roadrunner Records in April 1992, almost to date one year after the release of the band´s debut full-length studio album "The Ten Commandments (1991)". Quite a few lineup changes have taken place in that year though as Alex Marquez has replaced Mark Simpson on the drums and Rob Barrett has replaced Jeff Juszkiewicz as the band´s second guitarist. Both new members came from a stint with Solstice. Constant lineup changes would be somewhat of a trend throughout the band´s history.

Lineup changes or not, the music style isn´t that different from the music style on the debut album. It´s energetic death metal with a brutal thrashy edge. I guess "Retribution" is slightly more death metal tinged than "The Ten Commandments (1991)", but we´re talking minor details. "Retribution" is what you can safely call a death metal "classic" and it´s widely considered the best, or at least among the best albums by Malevolent Creation. Listening to "Retribution" it´s pretty obvious why that is. While the music isn´t wildly original, Malevolent Creation still have a sound that sets them apart from the pack. The brutal and energetic thrash tinged riffing is one of the reasons, but it´s probably mostly due to the distinct sounding raw/semi-growling yet completely intelligible vocals by Brett Hoffmann. The band are exceptionally well playing and especially new drummer Alex Marquez brings a more precise/aggressive rythmic attack to the band´s sound (compared to the drumming on the debut).

Tracks like "Eve of the Apocalypse", "Slaughter of Innocence" and "Coronation of Our Domain" are classics in the band´s repetoire, but "Retribution" is both a consistent and strong album throughout it´s 34:09 minutes long playing time. And yes the music isn´t the most varied or adventurous sounding in the world, but it´s delivered with great conviction and relentless aggression. The album is well produced too, featuring a typical brutal early nineties Scott Burns production, that´s designed to make your ears bleed and your bowels implode. A 4 star (80%) rating is fully deserved.
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