Whitechapel

The Somatic Defilement

Candlelight Records 2007

Showcasing a triple guitar assault, Knoxville's Whitechapel fall right in line stylistically with fellow labelmates Knights of the Abyss and Martriden.  Brutal death metal with a bit of a "core" influence on their sound.  The title track exemplifies this chunky riffing style with insane vocals and stop and start mosh breakdowns.  The keyboard outro for this song is soothing and quite pleasant.  But it belies the fact that a relentless assault of meaty deathcore riffs is just around the corner on Devirgination Studies.  Each song will string together frenetic guitar and drumming passages only to devolve once again into a groove heavy Breakdown!  Fairy Fay is a great example of this well-worn tactic used by Whitechapel as it winds through blistering drumming passages only to fall once again headlong into a lethargic, stomping BREAKDOWN!  Frenzied fingerwork slows down into some almost atmospheric passages in Alone in the Morgue before yet another breakdown hits which is accentuated by some well placed guitar squeals.  At least Vicer Exciser opens with some grinding blast beats, just to keep the energy and "excitement" at a high point.  It is interesting how there appears to be back and forth banter from triple vocalists throughout the album, whether it be an extremely deep guttural tone, the standard death metal vocals or a more deathcore screaming style.  Whitechapel, while better than many of its peers, is still devoid of anything that truly sets them apart and makes them "interesting."  Mainly the Somatic Defilement consists of sludgy yet neck-snapping breakdowns, crazy vocal interplay and groove muddied riffing with no aversion to frantic time changes.