Along with doppelgangers (or twins dependent on your perception) MISERY INDEX, Baltimore's DYING FETUS have been flying the flag of a truly unique form of Brutal Death Metal (the kind for Political Science majors or anyone with a social conscience beyond a pit of zombies) for round about twenty years now. One would think that with age things would mellow, or at the very least quit being faster than most drum machines. Well, better luck next time, as DYING FETUS has returned to once again turn your brain and turn your neck muscles into so much coagulated goo.

"Descend Into Depravity" marks the fourth time John Gallagher and his revolving door team of technical bruising machines have come for your jugular, and be damn happy they do. Not many bands can be as punishing, enjoyable, inventive and generally ass kicking as DYING FETUS. Admittedly this album, for the first time ever, almost completely abandons the Deathcore/Slam that DYING FETUS are known for, and that fact alone may turn some away. Without an abundance of crunching riffs that churn slowly like upset in the baby's tummy that keeps her awake all freaking day, DYING FETUS have transcended to an entirely different level of Metal mastery: they have read and drunk well the arcane knowledge contained in the chapter for turning into NILE. It's really strange, but with the speeds that both bands play at, if one is not paying very careful attention, musically at least the blitzkrieg is quite (on the surface only) similar. That is not at all to say that the crunch and heft are left for dead - far from it - as there is still enough here to satiate diehard fans, but there is also ample musicianship occurring to readily convert new fans, and quickly, before their neck muscles coagulate.

Special mention should also be made of new skin basher Trey Williams, recently recruited to join the DYING FETUS wrecking machine. Simply put, this man has some of the best control and panache in terms of technical ability of anyone I have heard, ever. He does not have ankles, only rubber bands. I am sure of it. Stupidly, stupefyingly good. Trey's performance, in terms of ratcheting up the overall speed of the proceedings, is to be commended. Also, everyone should check out his other band COVENANCE, as they also rock most heartily.

And in the era of downloadable everything, Metal albums and their requisite packaging and artwork appear to be getting more and more elaborate. For "Descend Into Depravity", DYING FETUS have concocted art that looks like something straight from Frank Miller. It's surreal and unsettling and the cover itself sets the tone for the rest of the album; like the good old days, if you have never heard DYING FETUS before then the cover will be enough to make you buy the album. But, you've heard DYING FETUS before, right?