Father Befouled - Revulsion of Seraphic Grace
I hesitate to use the word “revival” when speaking in Death Metal terms. As far as the time-tested nihilist is concerned, the genre has not at any point since its late-’80s birth lost its power or appeal. Let’s face it, even before the internet crippled the recording industry, no Death Metal band was ever destined to make millions. (I don’t think Dethklok should count.) So, while it may take an occasional backseat to the flavor of the month (Black Metal, Metalcore, Neurosis clones, Sabbath worshippers, etc), it has never died, nor will it ever. You simply can’t kill what’s already Death. But let’s just say that over the last handful of years, there has been an influx of new underground talent, and it seems as though the most notable of this fresh-blood boom are devoted to two specific camps of homage: Old School Swedeath and Incantation. Which of these does Father Befouled belong to? Let’s ask vocalist/guitarist Ghoat (also of Encoffination), who told Decibel magazine last year: “(We) sound just like Incantation… That’s one of my absolute favorite bands, so I wanted to make music like that.” I don’t care how much you pine for originality, it’s hard to argue with that logic. And sound like Incantation they do, indeed. Get John McEntee drunk enough and blindfold him, even he might guess Revulsion of Seraphic Grace to be his own doing. You see, it isn’t just that abysmal twisted riffing style and bestial vocal spewage they’ve nailed. They have successfully replicated the actual aura of the band. The production, the tone, the pitch… it all feels like an Incantation album, right down to song titles like “Indulgence of Abhorrent Prophecies,” “Irreverent Ascendancy,” and “Obscurance of Universality” (coincidentally my favorite three cuts). What’s remarkable is how cohesive the album sounds, considering it was written via video and file-sharing by members strewn across the USA. This may not be an original band, or even an original concept, but when Father Befouled’s darkened grime is emanating from my speakers, it’s impossible for me to have any kind of problem with it.
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