Dying Fetus tend to get a large amount of shit from the Death Metal elitists that roam the internet these days, mostly for having heavy Hardcore influence. Given that the band’s sound is basically Suffocation meets Hatebreed, there’s truth in that. However, War Of Attrition, the Annapolis quartet’s fifth album, has earned itself a special place in this penman’s heart through quite a few plays as the year has gone by. No, the Hardcore influence is still there, enough to make anyone that turns their nose up at the band and pronounces them no better than one of the new ‘Deathcore’ horde that appears to have sprung up out of nowhere have a point. Despite that, there’s enough Death Metal brutality on offer to make this worthy of a listen to any BDM lout that appreciates the art of the grunt.

’Attrition’, as my Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary informs me, is ‘the process of gradually weakening somebody’s strength and confidence by continuous harassment’, and that sums the album up perfectly. Riffs, deep, deep growls and blasts come at you constantly, channelling the viciousness of Death Metal through the simplicity of Hardcore, and it makes for a compellingly headbangable listen. If you’re used to Metalcore bands taking the NYDM route then doubtlessly you’ll love this, as this is one of the best examples of the formula ever laid down. If, on the other hand, you have managed to keep your ears free of that groove-ridden madness, then this is still worth a listen, mostly because of John Gallagher and Mike Kimball’s sense of riffage, making the frequent breakdowns as hard-hitting as a wayward fist in the moshpit. Of course, drummer Duane Timlin, a session player for Black Metal luminaries like Krieg and Judas Iscariot, provides a sharp, technical battery, filling in all the gaps and keeping perfectly in time with the rest of the band (if Insidious Repression doesn’t make your head bang, nothing will).

Production is fine, masking the bass a little but giving each instrument room to breathe. Ultimately, this will appeal to a very certain type of Death Metalhead only, we noble few that worship Demilich and Deicide especially. If you’re new to the subgenre, Suffocation’s self-titled would be a better place to start, but War Of Attrition will cause more than a few stiff necks amongst the Brutal hoi polloi.