DIABOLIC — Subterraneal Magnitude (review)

DIABOLIC — Subterraneal Magnitude album cover Album · 2001 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Subterraneal Magnitude" is the 2nd full-length studio album by US, Tampa, Florida based death metal act Diabolic. The album was released through Conquest Music, Inc. on the 16th of October 2001. "Subterraneal Magnitude" was already recorded in June 2000, but problems with the label postponed the release a full year (the original release date was planned for October 2000), which meant that it was released only a few weeks before the release of their third full-length studio album "Vengeance Ascending" (released on the 30th of October 2001). There has been one lineup change since "Supreme Evil (1998)" as bassist Edwin Webb has been replaced by guitarist Bryan Hipp. Lead vocalist Paul Ouellette has switched from guitar to bass on "Subterraneal Magnitude".

"Subterraneal Magnitude" opens with a short ominous piano intro and then a mid-paced heavy instrumental track closing with a guitar solo, but from then on the remaining part of the album is business as usual US death metal greatly influenced by especially Morbid Angel (although a touch of Deicide can also be detected). So there are few surprises if you´re already familiar with the sound of "Supreme Evil (1998)" (the band´s debut album). Maybe the pace is lowered a few more times during the playing time compared to the fast-paced and energetic debut album, but it´s details, and "Subterraneal Magnitude" is predominantly also a very fast-paced and energy packed release. The music is performed with great technical skill and you´ll get everything here you expect from an old school US death metal release in the faster end of the spectrum. Fast tremolo riffs, blistering chromatic guitar solos, a solid and ultra fast-playing rhythm section, and intelligible aggressive growling vocals.

"Subterraneal Magnitude" features, a powerful, raw, and brutal sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly. Again it´s another feature which won´t surprise anyone familiar with "Supreme Evil (1998)" or this style of music in general, but it´s an important feature if you want to release this type of music, which isn´t exactly filled to the brim with original songwriting ideas. If you can´t surprise and impress your listeners with a unique sound, then solid songwriting, strong musicianship, and a powerful and well sounding production job are the minimum requirements for a succesfull release. And...upon conclusion "Subterraneal Magnitude" is a succesfull high quality US death metal release. Fans of the above mentioned influences are recommended to give "Subterraneal Magnitude" a listen. A 4 star (80%) rating is deserved.
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