While Russia has produced some pretty intense bands over the years, particularly in the black metal sub-genre, I don’t usually think of that country when I’m in the mood for some brutal death metal. Murmansk’s Neurogenic have changed that for me, thanks to their soul-crushingly heavy debut, Ouroboric Stagnation.
Guitarist Vlad Melnik founded the band in 2012, and quickly added the living legend in American death metal, Marco Pitruzzella, on drums, Anton Zhikharev on bass, and Italian vocalist Matteo Bazzanella. When I saw that Marco is a member, I immediately got excited, since I’ve enjoyed pretty much everything he has been involved with, and Neurogenic proved to be no exception. Ouroboric Stagnation is full of insanely technical, yet brutal, death metal that will leave your head spinning (after it has been ripped off, of course). Blast beats, guttural death growls (with a big portion of them being inhaled), gut-bursting bass, and dizzying guitar work are the weapons that this band uses to wage sonic warfare on the listener. With a sound that lies somewhere between Disgorge, Deeds Of Flesh, and hints of Gorguts, fans of the modern death metal scene will find a lot to love here. “Allotriophagical Obsession” is a particular favorite of mine, with its blinding speed, crushing “breakdowns,” sweeping lead guitar, and some cool bass bits that are given a moment or two to shine.
The production is exactly what the doctor ordered for this kind of release, with low, rumbly sounding bass that gives the music a good boost in the low-end. The vocals aren’t overly processed, and the guitars aren’t overpowering in the mix, giving everyone else just as much weight in the overall sound. If you’re not a fan of this style of death metal, it might be a bit of a chore trying to tell the songs apart, since there isn’t really any melody, and the majority of the songs are played at a pretty frantic pace. That being said, Neurogenic display an awe-inspiring level of musicianship and chemistry between members that many bands twice their age have still yet to achieve. If you’re a fan of brutal death metal, or are looking for something extremely technical, Ouroboric Stagnation has a little of both for you, and is a worthy addition to any extreme metal fan’s collection.