Today, Intestine Baalism celebrates a birthday.
Ultimate Instinct, their third album, turns twelve. Founded in Japan in 1991 under the name of Euthanasia, the band changes name in 1994. This third album is released in 2008, and it is accompanied by Hisao Hashimoto (drums, Butcher ABC), Kenji Minagawa (bass, ex-Miscreant Invocation) and Kenji Nonaka (guitar) that Seiji Kakuzaki (guitar/vocals), the founder, releases this album.
What instantly seizes us in this album is the sound. The mix is monumental, perfectly melting the band’s Old School style with sharp melodic touches. Even if it was released in 2008, the influences are amongst Melodic Death Metal masters as well as the japanese craftmanship. After a terrific start on Agony in the Stone Chamber, the band strikes with super powerful riffs and a cavernous voice. Harmonics are piercing, just like on Cry for the Black Sun, a visceral track that proves us the band really know what they’re doing. Connoisseurs would have recognize Longing for Birth’s influences, while Intestine Baalism crushes everything on its path. Awakening, my own favorite song, plays as much on a jerky rhythmic as on raw strength with this screaming voice. The song smells death, and it’s not possible not to be caught into this whirlwind.
We go back on piercing and tortured leads for Wind of Death, while a true blast beat storm hits. The rhythmic part is softer for Dark Surface, and the band take the opportunity to put some heady leads that give this bloody-tasting Melodic Death Metal its taste. The Massacre, the shorter song, directly begins with a powerful strike, and adds some more violent parts while keying a great dose of groove to those riffs. Ultimate Instinct, the eponymous track, offers us an incredibly catchy sound, spiking lead parts, a melodic as hell rhythmic and morbid vocals. The band even include a soft break to set more leads without sounding like a scholar demonstration. Galaxy of the Black Sun, the last song, tends once again to the style’s roots to offer us an unforgettable final.
Way too underrated in my opinion, Intestine Baalism offered in 2008 a Melodic Death Metal lesson. Ultimate Instinct comes to complete a short but extraordinary discography, and according to me one of the best albums of this style. On stage? The band only did one show outside of Japan, and it was wonderful.
95/100