REVIEW: Gutrectomy – Manifestation of Human Suffering [2022]
Artist: Gutrectomy
Album: Manifestation of Human Suffering
Suffering is a constant in life, across all species. Every living thing feels pain to some capacity, and that pain can–at times–mount and become intolerable. It wears down the psyche as readily as it wears down the human form; skin becomes thin, cracking and bloodied. Bones become brittle and snap under growing pressure. The mind bends, warps into shapes that defy description before, just as the bone and flesh in which it is confined, it breaks. Suffering is absolute–in the very same way that Manifestation of Human Suffering, the 2022 full length release by slamming death metal/beatdown hybrid juggernaut Gutrectomy is absolutely eviscerating. Laden with everything from gut-rending grooves to breakdown and slams so infernal they stand to turn the listener’s marrow into jelly, Manifestation of Human Suffering is a lesson in aggression and absurdity, seeing how far the envelope of heavy music can be pushed–and to great effect.
Manifestation of Human Suffering is chaos incarnate—from the first crack of the snare to the last crushing chug. Instrumentally, Gutrectomy take elements that were already intelligently composed on Slaughter the Innocent and add creativity and more dynamic, fluid song structure. The band’s percussionist, Simon Wernert is impeccable when it comes to machine-gun blast beats and mind-melting fills, as even the opening salvo of “Abyss” into “Shrine of Disgust” is enough to cause the listener to prolapse, as deep, crushing kick drum and piercing, sharp snare tear through the listener’s flesh like bullets through paper. What’s more is Wernert’s brilliant interplay with guitarist Philip Dahlenburg. Where their dynamic was previously defined as relentlessly heavy chugs and over-the-top thick bass drum, they now flow together much more effectively—the proof is found in the beautiful—yet brutal—harmony found in the opening riff of “Cranial Excavation” or the buildup to the climactic, album-defining slam in “Shrine of Disgust.” This is capped off by bass that–while not the star of the show–adds a a degree of density and impact to Manifestation of Human Suffering. This is seen throughout the release, but the opening segment of “Slaves to Greed” or the closing onslaught of “Scavenger of Hatred” are two particularly stand-out examples. Together, Wernert and Dahlenburg–aided by bassist Louis Weber–wreak pure instrumental havoc, with Dahlenburg’s lightning-fast tremolo picking and goosebump-inducing pinch harmonics lining up perfectly with Wernert’s mile-a-minute blast beats and skull-splitting fill work.
Gutrectomy’s over-the-top instrumentation is exceeded–or maybe matched is a better word–only by the towering vocal prowess of frontman Dennis Schuler. Schuler’s range is every bit as dynamic as one would expect from some of beatdown slam-core’s biggest stars (yes, I know that isn’t a “real” thing). Personal favorite “Shrine of Disgust” is home to a immense series of skull-piercing brees and robust, gurgling guttural bellows. Likewise, “Diarrhea Diving Club” has a vocal demonstration that lives up to the track’s putrid title, with shrill screams and deep growls working in tandem to terrify the listener. Manifestation of Human Suffering is not only home to Schuler’s native talent but to guest vocals from members of I Declare War, Filth and Stillbirth–titans spanning several genres and styles. With their creative additions, monotony is practically impossible–even as it was improbable with Schuler’s degree of variability and dynamism–and the listener has several choice cuts from other vocal talents to keep their interest in the release fresh.
Between Schuler’s gory, grotesque vocal work and Gutrectomy’s immense instrumental dynamic, there is truthfully very little room for error to be found within Gutrectomy’s tight-knit and carefully crafted dynamic. Where Manifestation of Human Suffering man run into its only slight pitfall is runtime–as even with a huge degree of vocal variety, the band’s twelve-track monolith is still a hefty bite to chew in one sitting. Even so, if you’re looking for nearly 40 minutes of unfiltered aggression in the form of chugs and kick drum so thick and dense they stand to smooth out the wrinkles of your brain, you need look no further. Gutrectomy’s gargantuan style of slamming, prolapse-inducing brutal slam-tinted-beatdown-deathcore is essential to the growing genre. Manifestation of Human Suffering is nothing short of a heaping helping of mammoth-sized riffs, steamrolling percussion and vocal brilliance, exemplifying the beauty–and brutality–that can be found in the throes of suffering.
8.5/10
For Fans Of: Acrania, Organectomy, Acranius
By: Connor Welsh
