Review by UnhinderedbyTalent for Mefitis - Emberdawn (2019)
One listen to Mefitis and you'll soon hear where their heart lies. Mining the depths of Finnish death metal whilst espousing some melodic Swedish influences also the band have both feet firmly rooted in the early to mid-nineties scene. Even going as far as having their album artwork done by Rantanen (of Demigod, Demilich and Adramlech cover fame) the band wear their influences from this era of expansive and bold death metal on both sleeves, leaving just a little room for Emperor-like touches also.
Comprised of just two members, the American partnership of Alex Mitroff and Jake Dawson show a myriad of talent on the nine tracks on offer here. Full of galloping energy and racing speed pace they certainly do take you on a journey back through the last three decades to a time when brutality and heavy upon heavier just wasn't giving fans of death metal enough. The influence of early At The Gates is obvious more or less from the word go, but this is not just mere ATG-worship. There's enough of that Finnish influence in the sound also to add some further depth as well as smatterings of the more atmospheric and subtly flamboyant elements of In The Nightside Eclipse to really make things interesting.
Most tracks feel like they are always building with the guys making excellent use of the progressive elements of their songwriting prowess. In so many ways, when in full flow at least, the album feels like a sustained attack on the senses delivered in the most efficient and calculated manner. It's like bits of blades used in the frenzy break off and stay stuck in yourvwounds as a bloody reminder of the experience you have undergone.
The album has a range of instrumental tracks (three in total) that build the atmosphere and prowess of the record well, they never get showy or turn into guitar wank-fests but act instead to emphasise the lush darkness of the metal being played here. I should add that the band have been around since circa 2007/2008 and it took them twelve years to get a full-length released. I feel that during this time they have honed their skills nicely and given a complete and authentic death metal album that has real layers of nostalgia for the more experienced of metal fans to enjoy peeling back