If you're looking for the best of the best in a particular sub-style of death metal, there's a set of names that are synonymous with the highest quality. In the case of technical brutal death metal (Or is it brutal technical death metal? Don't answer that.), a few key names jump out: Origin (my personal favorite), Deeds of Flesh, Malignancy, and old gods like Cryptopsy and Suffocation. But another name stands tall among these practitioners of punishment: Defeated Sanity.
Starting out in 1993, Defeated Sanity hit its stride of strident brutality in the 21st century with classics like Psalms to the Moribund and Chapters of Repugnance. That said, DO NOT sleep on their demo era, as there's lots of fascinating work to be found on Devoured by the Black and Withdrawn From Beauty. Defeated Sanity are true devotees to their craft, taking the listener to the most straightforward and direct realms on Disposal of the Dead and its most technical and experimental on 2020's The Sanguinary Impetus.
There's something to love in everything Defeated Sanity has done, but I do think they may have veered a little too far on The Sanguinary Impetus for most listeners. You have to be REALLY in the mood for off-kilter musical constructions to make it through that album. This is not a knock on Defeated Sanity but I think a re-centering was definitely in order. And that's exactly what they accomplish on Chronicles of Lunacy.
Right from the outset, "Amputationsdrang" grabs you with that brilliant snare sound from founding member Lille Gruber and the CHUNG-CHUNG sound emanating from the scooped-to-hell guitars of Vaughn Stoffey — of course backed up by the thundering rumblings of longtime bassist Jacob Schmidt. It's the kind of music that makes you immediately go: "Oh hell yes. That's the stuff!" Well, unless you're a well-adjusted normie who doesn't like obnoxious noise. Then you'll probably have that exasperated look on your face at how or why anyone could enjoy something so brutal.
Songs like "The Odour Of Sanctity" and "Extrinsically Enraged" are abrasive in a way that makes them instantly alienating to probably 99% of people. But if you have that certain fascination with sonic malevolence in your veins, you simply need this music in your life. Defeated Sanity does a great job integrating their technical musical skills into the songs here, but dials it back just enough to let the hooks shine through. Yes, this music can be catchy in the right moments. That said, it's still dazzling to hear how Lille can tear up the drums so relentlessly, or how vocalist Josh Welshman effortlessly utters the vocal growls from subterranean depths. "Temporal Disintegration" is probably the jazziest of the songs on here, so the techy types will enjoy chewing on that one.
And my goodness, songs like "A Patriarchy Perverse" are so immediately exhilarating, you just can't help but want to destroy everything within view. This song actually veers into slam territory, as does "Heredity Violated" and moments of other songs. I'm sure someone wearing sweatpants will correct me on my error if I've gotten that wrong. Meanwhile, "Accelerating The Rot" is SO FAST. HOW? HOW DO THEY DO THIS?
But here's another cool thing about Defeated Sanity: the extremity isn't forced. The band doesn't take the gore factor into adolescent territory. They don't opt for cheap shock value for its own sake. They allow the music to project the extremity on its own terms. This is the sign of a death metal band that knows the power of their own abilities and doesn't need to resort to gimmicks. Bravo.
Defeated Sanity is one of the best in the game of absolute top-tier extremity. Chronicles of Lunacy further cements the band's status using every weapon in the arsenal. Oh, I also dig the samples from Taxi Driver and Bram Stoker's Dracula, those moments were cool too.
