REVIEW: Decayer – Sonoran Death [EP]

Artist: Decayer
Album: Sonoran Death — EP

Rotting. Bones bleaching beneath an unforgiving sun, abandoned in a scorched hellscape. Alone. If you know about the Sonoran Desert, you know it can feel a little like that—especially around this time of year. If you don’t know about the Sonoran Desert, you can either take my word for it, or you can experience the brand new EP by Southwestern purveyors of contemporary deathcore Decayer—aptly titled Sonoran Death. A collection of immolating, immense monuments to groove-heavy, gut-punching deathcore, Sonoran Death follows in the footsteps of Pestilence, amplifying their penchant for punishing breakdowns and lacerating riffs while incorporating new elements into the fold to enhance their already-impressive dynamic. While brief, the band’s follow-up to their 2021 entry comes with a cornucopia of growth and refinement, ushering in what may stand as Decayer’s best era yet.
Since their inception, Decayer have carefully straddled the lines between contemporary deathcore and “old school” deathcore—all while carefully adding splashes of metalcore and touches of progressive groove into the mix. While Sonoran Death doesn’t change this too much, it does see the band embrace their contemporary influences more openly, especially with songs like the album’s eponymous introduction and “Of String and Broken Mirrors.” Here, punchy drums and bass work together to lay a hefty foundation that shines in stark contrast from occasional electronic touches and programming—especially prominent throughout portions of “Sonoran Death.” Other songs—like the aptly titled “Dark Passenger” and “Blood Red Sun” see Decayer at their most ruthless, lashing out with languishing fretwork and pummeling drums that coalesce into crushing, eviscerating breakdowns. “Of String and Broken Mirrors” sees them balancing one of the most punishing moments of their career against some of the finest examples of clean guitar tones and bouncy drumming that plays a strong pocket. These moments are far from the outright aggression and metallic punch Decayer have become synonymous with, and stand as an excellent example of their growth and diversity. Throughout the entirety of the EP, the band excel in providing aggression in spades—but its the additional touches on their title track, or the ambient break in “Of String and Broken Mirrors” that adds extra depth to Sonoran Death’s instrumentation, making it feel unique from Decayer’s previous releases.
It should come as little surprise that the band’s vocal element is monstrous—across every record, regardless of the vocalist or the style, Decayer’s vocal presence has consistently been excellent, and I’m thrilled to report that Sonoran Death is no different. Following the lineup changes that took place prior to the recording and release of Pestilence, the band’s latest EP stands as frontman Sean Labrucherie’s second record with the act—at least since his reinstatement. “Pride” is a testament to his range while “Dark Passenger” and “Sonoran Death” exemplify his intensity, all fitting excellently with the instrumentation that serves as his canvas. Where Labrucherie is powerful, his lyrics are also impactful, with the entire middle run of the EP seeing the band’s lyrical content take a sizable step up from 2021’s Pestilence. Ultimately, while the vocal element throughout Sonoran Death doesn’t share the same bump in intensity and diversity that Decayer’s instrumentation boasts, it also doesn’t need it, and frankly, it would be hard to reasonably ask for more.
Sonoran Death is another strong entry into Decayer’s robust discography. While it’s hard to argue it as their strongest work yet, it certainly earns its place at the upper ranks of the band’s overall list of works, with each song demonstrating how the band has grown in the two years since their previous release. Ultimately, it’s something just about any heavy music listener will find something accessible in—and an essential release for any deathcore enthusiast, as it brings all the heat and ferocity its name so boldly implies.

9/10
For Fans Of: Bodysnatcher, Born of Osiris, Signs of the Swarm, Enterprise Earth
By: Connor Welsh