Review: “Breed Death” by Sensory Amusia

“Breed Death is about a disgust for the worst side of humanity. It’s the negative and hateful feelings you suppress deep inside in order to function and live a normal life. We wanted to unleash the beast. Our previous releases In Extremis and  Bereavement were about the fragility of life and death and later accepting and living with death – inspired by our personal experiences. Breed Death is the final hell, portrayed through a fictitious character’s slowly decaying mind.” ~ Sensory Amusia

An ember that became a flame has now grown into a raging inferno for Perth, Australia’s Sensory Amusia as they started out almost a decade ago, releasing debut album “Disrepair” in 2013. Little did they know at the time but it would be six long years before their next release, the first of two EPs in back to back years titled “In Extremis” setting the tone for the very well received “Bereavement“. Each one of that holy trinity of records has showcased supreme chaotic Death Metal with elements of Hardcore and Grind, influenced by seminal acts like Benighted, Aborted and Dying Fetus while bringing their own lethal dose of Australian hatred as they seek to combine ferocity, groove and technicality in one monumentally monstrous sound. Depending on where you look, the band are either a quartet comprising Shaun Maloney (Guitars), Joel Parkyn (Bass, Lyrics), Jei Doublerice (Vocals, Lyrics, Mixing, Mastering) and Kevin Paradis (Drums) or a trio minus the drummer but that’s a debate for another day, as is whether Sensory Amusia are a Technical Deathcore act or not. That latter point could well go long into the night over a bottle of Wild Turkey around a campfire because there are is plenty of evidence to be discussed in court. What isn’t up for debate is the fact that these tracks are at the brutal end of the Metal spectrum, each one a vicious little ditty with plenty of venom of its own. Starting at the back and working our way forward, the kit work on “Breed Death” is absolutely monstrous with blasts and jackhammer double kick footwork a plenty as well as perfectly executed technical fills that add a weight and gravity to the bands brand of Death Metal. Each performance is a powerhouse of rhythmic artillery shelling battery that knows no bounds with a restless and relentless approach and endless energy. The Black Metal inspired parts of “Vulgar Thoughts of Carnage” along with the atmosphere before it is slickly transitioned into a huge Deathcore breakdown section is the absolute Chef’s Kiss.

Building from there, the guitar work is frantic and frenetic, rich in quirky nuances and performed with the kind of freedom that you only really hear in the live arena when bands aren’t using a click track and are simply using the drummer for timing. There is an almost avant-garde nature to them with superb little moments that blow the mind, “Yersinia Pestis” being a prime example and putting Maloney up their in the ranks of talent in the genre as he frequently gets through the work of two players. Whether it be sinister leads in the vein of what we’ve heard from The Faceless or headbangable groove parts like the one “Parasitic Alteration” that could easily be the work of Lamb Of God, he has it all in his arsenal. The solo in “Bleed Death” is one of scant few but is an absolute face melter, worth the admittance fee alone. Parkyn’s bass adds drive, augmenting the rhythms with a depth and gravity, anchoring the performances of Paradis (assuming its him on the record) and Maloney to provide the ideal counter weight. It isn’t easy playing that role between a pair of phenomenal players who deliver stand out performances here, but he is still an essential part of this planet destroying machine. Doublerice is a master of multi dimensional vocals, able to produce Death Metal growls, shriller tones and the occasional Slam inspired moment from the black depths seemingly on demand, never afraid to mix it up to remain fresh. That gives the whole album the sense that he’s unhinged as you’re never quite sure what’s going to emanate from his throat on the first few spins but the real surprise is the spoken word moments on “Bind Torture Kill” which add to the crushing atmospheric with a sense of danger. A beast of a record that quite literally has everything you could possibly want and more at the heavier end of the spectrum this is one that at times beggars belief [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Birth through Violence
2. Yersinia Pestis
3. Vermin
4. Parasitic Alteration
5. Vulgar Thoughts of Carnage
6. Bind Torture Kill
7. A Blank Canvas of Flesh
8. Breed Death

“Breed Death” by Sensory Amusia is out 27th March 2022 via Lacerated Enemy Records and is available for pre-order over at bandcamp.