Outer Heaven -
REalms of Eternal Decay
Pennsylvania death metal. The phrase calls to mind a scene that has in the last few years flourished into a progressive, genre-bending, convention-challenging landscape that stands in almost antithetical contrast to the swamp-thing antics of its primordial Floridian ancestors. But as bands like Rivers of Nihil and Black Crown Initiate fly their new-fangled spacecraft into philosophical echelons of eclectic novelty, another movement stirs in the sewers deep beneath the streets of Philadelphia’s western suburbs, one that seeks to re-animate the dying corpse of unfiltered brutality with a newfound lust for annihilation.
Formed in Douglassville, PA in 2013, and named after Big Boss’s paramilitary group from Metal Gear Solid, Outer Heaven exist for the sole purpose of separating brains from their respective skulls by whatever means necessary. Part of a movement of relatively young death east coast death metal bands seeking to re-invigorate the more vestigial branches of their genre, they began their career largely re-inventing the sounds of Incantation, Deicide, or Bolt Thrower on their first EP Diabolus Vobiscum and a 2016 split with Gatecreeper, Scorched, and Homewrecker (yeet). Although fun and nostalgic, Outer Heaven’s initial efforts failed to
Artwork by Matthew Stikker
Posted October 12th, 2018
effectively break new ground; in decades past, the groups that inspired their younger counterparts were carving fresh and terrifying new scars into the still developing body of heavy metal, whereas more recent attempts from the latter enclave rely mostly on imitation.
But in 2018, as we enter death metal’s fourth decade of existence, those whose madness was spawned in the mid-90’s are slowly losing the energy to produce new albums containing the auditory equivalent of livestock thrown into a wind tunnel. With Frank Mullen’s upcoming retirement looming over the metal world like some kind of symbolic generational transition, someone must take up that mantel of unapologetically breakneck savagery. Now five years into their career, Outer Heaven are ready to confidently step up to that plate. With their debut LP, Realms of Eternal Decay, the group has finally honed their sound into a thrillingly eldritch horror that faithfully emulates the dungeon-crawling, sputtering-gristle texture of the most brutal OSDM while successfully peppering in enough contemporary elements to pique the interests of modern death metal aficionados.
Realms of Eternal Decay was crafted in near-perfect storm circumstances; cashing in on the rare privilege that comes with joining the Relapse family, the record combines the youthful vigor of the band’s members with a squad of veteran producers sporting a more than impressive track record. Realms was produced by Kevin Bernsten (Skeletonwitch, Full of Hell, and Integrity) at Developing Nations Studios, where it was mixed by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Inquisition, Pissgrave). With their combined efforts, this team has created a sonic atmosphere that recreates the murky, buzzing, slime-ridden gore of old Floridian death metal while interpreting that style through a more modern lens. The muddiness of the record’s sound comes across as an intentional stylistic choice rather than a technological limitation, perfectly recreating the aesthetic suggested by Matthew Stikker’s cover art, that of extraterrestrial Neanderthals battling to the death in unearthly mutated chasms.
Realms launches immediately into its no-bullshit assault “Vortex of Thoughts” – no lengthy warm-ups or atmospheric opening tracks here. Vortex is the perfect term to describe to this album’s style: with an introductory blast beat assault followed by the obligatory sizzling three-second bass solo, “Vortex of Thoughts” attacks the listener like a hailstorm of cosmic radiation. With Austin Gaines’s disgustingly guttural growl carrying us into the steadily pounding double bass passages of “What Lies Beneath”, it becomes clear that Realms will be a farm-raised, organically grown creation, free from fanciful effects and studio magic. The album features all of the filthy components of classic death metal but refrains from gratuitousness: on “What Lies Beneath” and “Echoes from Beyond” we hear a smattering of double bass, but no mechanical, soulless triggered pedals. Gloriously obscene breakdowns occur on nearly every track, yet never venture into the over-the-top realm of Slam or BDM. Through and through, Outer Heaven stay true to the old-style mentality.
Although Realms of Eternal Decay is an undeniably straightforward effort, one would be remiss to call it simplistic. Outer Heaven intertwines their tapestry of gory pulverization with shimmering threads of surprisingly creative nuance. Tracks like “Sacrificial Evolution” feature devilish diminished guitar harmonies that shift into slithering, rumbling bass beatdowns. “Putrid Dwelling” juggles effortlessly between alternating rhythmic patterns within odd time signatures, creating infectious shiggy-diggy grooves that’ll have you tempted to throw some major elbows in the pit. Furthermore, in addition to blast beat and double bass patterns, Outer Heaven utilize more punk-oriented D-beat rhythms throughout the record, especially on “Multicellular Savagery” and “Tortured Winds”, which suggest the influence of grindcore, or even hardcore punk.
Despite being infused with this grinding, punk attitude, Realms of Eternal Decay is an indisputably true grit death metal album. Even though its songs are short – all ten tracks clocking in under five minutes – Realms has no need for overstuffed compositions; it conveys a wide variety of ideas adequately through quick pieces and lithe transitions, with an unshakable fixation on brutality. One might even argue that this hardcore attitude is necessary to keep a band like Outer Heaven grounded and faithful to their roots in an environment of unbridled experimentation. After all, the very first bands to develop blisteringly fast, tremolo-filled variations of death metal originated from the punk-oriented realm of thrash itself. Indeed, these thrash elements are evident in many moments on Realms: “Tortured Winds” includes leads that might have been lifted directly off unused B-sides from Reign in Blood, and “Pulverizing Swarm” features a whirling, atonal guitar solo straight out of Kerry King’s personal handbook.
With Realms of Eternal Decay, Outer Heaven have perfected their own breed of death metal that represents not simply a revival of the OSDM style, but its rightful continuation. At times this is their greatest strength, but it also exposes some weaknesses within their music. Gaines’s gurgling, echoing howl is steeped in Suffocation worship; although he pays decent homage to Mullen’s vocal monstrosity, he never shifts his pitch or intonation, giving Outer Heaven’s vocals a relatively limited sonic quality. Furthermore, although each track on Realms is an exciting, pummeling romp through otherworldly kingdoms, individual songs can become forgettable in the greater scheme of the record's self-similitude. However, I see my minor complaints about the record not as shortcomings, but rather as unexplored potential for the band, potential they will undoubtedly harness in the years to come. I consider Realms to be an outstanding debut record, one that could even present a major paradigm shift in the course of death metal to come. All in all, Realms of Eternal Decay stands proud as the best example of cosmic obliteration these Pennsylvanian warlocks have yet to offer.
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FINAL SCORE: 8/10
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Realms of Eternal Decay is out today, October 12th, via Relapse Records. The album can be purchased or streamed via Outer Heaven's Bandcamp page.
You can also follow Outer Heaven on Facebook, and Instagram, and catch their ongoing East Coast tour with Full of Hell.
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