CoC : Dying to Bleed - The Decaying Process : Review

Dying to Bleed - _The Decaying Process_
(Black Sheep Records, 2008)
by: Yulon Zhu (4.5 out of 10)

Dying to Bleed is a Washingtonian death metal band with enough death breath to awaken an entire cemetery. Worms, maggots and cold, rotten Earth seep through the speakers while _The Decaying Process_ plays. They're more a group of running, flesh-seeking, undead souls than a bunch of stumbling, rotting zombies; this band is not as lumbering and low-tuned as most old-school death metal worship is, but not thrash injected either. Instead, they are a combination of modern brutal and old-school death. Courtesy of Black Sheep Records, _The Decaying Process_ strays from what is expected of a band that can be likened to Autopsy and Pestilence.

"Lividity" offers up a classic rock ballad-like solo in the beginning, misleading as nothing but dirty death metal follows in rapid succession. Tracks like "Blood on Blacktop" and "Empty Scriptures" show off an unexpected liveliness, like the Frankenstein monster being chased by pike-wielding peasants. Still, it seems to ruin the atmosphere of fetidness and repugnance. The muted, choked production would favor a slower and darker approach; closer to old-school. Even the bright cover work is lacking of a certain ancient death metal flair. Dying to Bleed's take on death is far from perfect, but it just might be enough to leave some death metal fans satisfied.

Contact: http://www.myspace.com/immiserate

(article published 12/7/2009)