Djinova - Apocalypsis Infinitum

 Midlands death metal/deathcore mob Djinova have finally unleashed their debut EP to the world. Two years in the making, it follows their slow but steady ascent within underground extreme metal circles, culminating with a slot on the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock a couple of years ago. Recorded at Initiate Audio and Media, it showcases the band - currently operating as a quartet - and the material that has helped them to get where they are with that extra bit of studio polish, with the slick production doing the four songs justice, covering all corners and eras of the death metal genre. There's something for every death metalhead on Apocalypsis Infinitum.

'Ingest the Gospel (Preach the Disease)' wastes no time in setting a tone of brutality, with tremolo-picked guitar riffing, ugly harmonic dissonance and a glass-shattering scream before the song has even really begun. With a melodic undercurrent in the chorus, illuminated with dizzying bass work from Scott, this serves as an effective contrast to the more atonal guitar riffs surrounding it in the song. After a couple of rounds, a face-contorting breakdown comes in to liven up the mosh pits, before Djinova cleverly and smoothly change up the feel of the song's groove to devastating effect. Try not to bounce along to that one. 

The furious 'A Day In Exile' follows, with Tony's tightly controlled blastbeats injecting the song with a sense of savagery at a very early stage. Yet Djinova also show their more mid-paced melodeath and groove metal chops here, with close attention to songwriting detail proved by their effortless stops and starts midway through. Around two-thirds in, they deliver another vicious, bouncy breakdown. Led by some outstanding vocal highs by Jamie, before going into an even slower, filthier new-school chug, you can only imagine the violence that ensues when this is played live.


Djinova interview - The Arches, Coventry, January 2020

Fan favourite 'Tale For The Dead' builds up tension with a dissonant guitar lead and ominous chords prior to launching into a relentlessly fast, heavy break. At times it really just feels nasty. The breakdown groove midway through adeptly utilises tomwork on the drums and guitar pickscrapes to achieve something a little different to the typical open-note passages that deathcore is often derided for. Brought back towards the end, the alternation between 'typical' breakdown textures and the tom-led drumming is hugely effective, making for an even more impactful final repeat. The track is arguably most memorable for its fast-and-furious verses and old-school touches, although there is also a nice lead guitar section that creates a desolate, doomy atmosphere with simple-but-effective melodies and note choices.

Closing epic 'Reign of Apathy' runs just short of eight minutes. Beginning with the feel of a melodic slow burner, Djinova seamlessly switch between both tempo extremes before a much uglier and more dissonant section changes the mood, with tight, off-time chugs accentuating beneath melodic yet creepy guitar licks. The alternation between discordant guitar riffing and melodic hooks is only part of what makes this song really effective, though; the intelligent sense of progression, structure and grandiosity within the songwriting is the true icing on the cake. There are technical moments and subtle rhythmic switches, but Djinova are also unafraid to throw in some simpler riffs and musical ideas that really stay put in the listener's mind. The outro is nothing short of epic, and you could easily make a case for them saving the best until the very end.


Tale for the Dead (live Jan 2020)

A fantastic first EP for Djinova. Each instrumentalist has moments that are really stellar - from technical guitar work, rumbling bass with the approach of a lead instrument, to laser-precise stickswork - and Jamie's larynx-shredding vocals are on point throughout. Apocalypsis Infinitum is a ferociously heavy effort. Unashamedly modern-sounding, but nodding to a range of different extreme soundscapes, it firmly places Djinova at the forefront of recording artists in the death metal genre. Each song has its own identity, and it's hard to pick a favourite, but it would be difficult to look past 'Reign of Apathy' - it was certainly a very strong and striking set closer when I saw them myself almost two years ago.

There's a lot of music being released at the moment, but that's not a reason to let this one go ignored.

9/10

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MN

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