CoC : Regorge - Kingdoms of Derision : Review

Regorge - _Kingdoms of Derision_
(Dead Again Records, 2002)
by: Quentin Kalis (7.5 out of 10)

_KoD_ is the debut from the Scottish brutal death metal band Regorge. For a debut, it's not bad; the production is more than acceptable, the music sufficiently technical, and each track is immediately identifiable as a Regorge track. Unusually for an album of this genre, the songs are rather long: some nine songs are performed in about 55 minutes. The length does not suit the style and the songs would in all likelihood be more brutal and have a greeter effect on the listener if they were compacted into four or less minutes of all-out aggression. However, the major flaw in this release is that, while I understand it is meant to be brutal -- and it most certainly is --, at times the vocals are simply too incoherent. While this is to be expected, there are too many passages in the album where it sounds as the vocals consist merely of one continuous growl, with no variation in pace or tone to even suggest that individual words of any kind are being enunciated. This might appeal to the die-hard fan, but for others it merely imbues the album with an unnecessary sense of monotony. This is a pity, as their music is intense, well-played and well worth a listen. Good songwriting clearly has not been sacrificed on the altar of brutality for this release. However, none of the aforementioned flaws are insurmountable problems, and _KoD_ is clearly the debut of a promising band that has yet to reach their peak.

Contact: http://www.deadagain.fsnet.co.uk

(article published 3/7/2002)

GIGS
13/3/2001	P Schwarz	Nile / Sleath / Regorge / Co-Exist	The Delta of Death Descends
12/8/2000	P Schwarz	Dismember / Akercocke / Infestation / Regorge	Scotland Skinned Alive