Humiliation
Seek To Survive
Ultra
Hingax Productions
2011
Malaysian
death metal commandos Humiliation return with their second album of
bruising war anthems on Seek To Survive. After a slow building
intro the album shifts into gear with a heavy, rhythmic punisher of a
song Lost Contact. Humiliation concentrate on midtempo
compositions that sound like a wave of oncoming tanks. I am
reminded a lot of style found on Boltthrower's War Master but with a
more monotone, straight-ahead approach. With One Objective hums
like a formation of WW2 bombers. The brutal whirring of the
guitars picks up steam but the overall feel of the track brings to mind
Hail Of Bullets. A ropey bass guitar lurks underneath the
surface. Whereas Death March includes a more doomy texture thanks
to some forlorn guitar parts. Those are overtaken by lumbering,
rumbling riffs as the song drives forward with determined resolve.
This theme is continued through most of the songs on the album, a
dense and bludgeoning groove that lays waste to the battlefield and is
framed by the occasional melodic flourish. Hellfire takes a
slightly toe-tapping approach with its riffing and Pasir Panjang Ridge
utilizes a somewhat bouncy main riff and stands out as the highlight of
the album for me. Humiliation does well with their no-frills,
guitar-driven onslaught of midtempo death metal. The
straight-forward rhythms will attempt to crush you beneath their weight
in much the same manner as fellow war inspired deathsters Hail of
Bullets and Boltthrower. Humiliation however is more focused than
those two bands and therefore less inclined to vary their attack.
So if you like a domineering groove that pulverizes everything
like a bulldozer, then Humiliation will appease your war-weary hunger.