Review: “Immaculate Pain” by Father Befouled

Adorned by artwork from guitarist and vocalist Justin Stubbs titled “Salvation 14.5” the latest burnt offering from Atlanta Georgia Death Metal bruisers Father Befouled continues a journey down the left hand path that started in 2006. The past eighteen years have seen five albums, five splits, three EPs, a live album and a demo from the quartet who have been signed to both Relapse and Dark Descent Records in that time. Adding to their legacy have been notable performances at Maryland Deathfest, Wolf Festival and Martyrdoom Festival which were followed by European tours in 2019 and 2022. Mastered by Dan Swano (October Tide, Necrophobic, Dark Funeral) at Unisound, “Immaculate Pain” follows 2021’s well received “Crowned in Veneficum” album, continuing the trend of releasing EPs or splits between full length of records that goes back to the very beginning of Father Befouled, all of which have been laced with themes of death, blasphemy and destruction…

…”Immaculate Pain” begins with the title track and finds the band at the bludgeoning best, issuing a malevolent warning of the shape of punk to come with churning, sinister and menacing downtuned riffs and blood gargled vocals. Chris McDonald nails the drum parts like a man possessed, the old school nature of the recording adding the nostalgic charm of those tape trading days to the record. Having set the bar high with that first venomous tirade,  “Impenitent Faith” continues the trend with gravelly throat splitting vocals and a tastefully eerie solo that will get fans on Incantation or perhaps even Twitch Of The Death Nerve hot under the collar. Pushing the boundaries of their signature sound with relentless chainsaw riffs, pulverising rhythms and conjuring an unadulterated atmosphere of pure malevolence, there can be no doubt that the quarter continue to grow despite their near twenty years on the scene. Surpassing the seven minute milestone with consummate ease “Abomination Of Flesh” is as evil as they come with dirge laden riffage and the crushing power of a black hole. Lurching between passages like Frankenstein’s monster before an extended solo that oozes class in high quality musicianship and song writing, it has to be said that Father Befouled are a heavyweight contender who have been underrated in the past. Slithering like a snake preparing to strike it’s prey, the repeated riffs of the second half are designed for that slow headbang and raising of a poison chalice when the quartet take to the stage.

After the relatively slower place of the first three tracks, a cover of “Pain Divine” by Morbid Angel is a shot of adrenaline straight to the vein as Father Befouled batter their way through the work of their heroes while imposing upon it something of their own style. That helps their rendition sound in keeping with the rest of the record rather than feeling like an after thought, giving the whole affair a better flow. Neck snapping Death Thrash at it’s finest. Labelled as a bonus track, Abhorrence cover “Vulgar Necrolatry” sounds like a demo as the recording quality is noticeably less than the tracks that came before it. That being said, it’s still an addition worth the admittance fee because it slaps like a woman scorned while having an absolute face melter of a solo as it reaches it’s bitter conclusion. All in all, “Immaculate Pain” is distinctly quality over quantity and despite having a pair of covers is as far from a stop gap release as you can possibly get, so if you like classic Brutal Death Metal with serious atmospherics, this is what you need! [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Immaculate Pain
2. Impenitent Faith
3. Abomination Of Flesh
4. Pain Divine (Morbid Angel Cover)
5. Vulgar Necrolatry (Abhorrence Cover)

“Immaculate Pain” by Father Befouled is out 13th September 2024 via Everlasting Spew Records with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.