Review: “Self Titled” by Death Descending

A nightmarish vision painted in blood, Death Descending is the work of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Christian Long. His first burnt offering is a self titled debut EP, painstakingly produced, mixed and mastered by Dakota DuFour of DuFour Audio. Several years in the making, the record features a pair of singles previously released in 2023 via the Slam World Wide YouTube channel. That information alone should be enough to convict him of several crimes against humanity with WormHoleDeath Records describing it as a pulverising experience from a dedicated musician based in Du Bois, Pennsylvania…

When he’s not rocking back and forth in the corner of a padded cell trying not to think about an act of trephination to release the demons from inside his head as depicted by the cover art, Christian Long is writing music. Monstrous music from the bowels of hell. The kind of material that they use to keep prisoners sleep deprived in Guantanamo Bay but perhaps not the kind that will mean you will no longer need those appointments for colonic irrigation. The first shot fired in anger is “Permanence“, a 73 second burst of scalding rage with Gollum inspired vocal violence and surprisingly groove laden guitar work. Heavy end Metallic Hardcore rhythmic drive keeps the fires burning with the savage vocals border on demonic, reaching and touching the void into Slam in the final moments. Twisting the knife, a title track that doubles as one that takes the name of the band in some inception level madness, “Death Descending” hits like a brick to the face. A prayer to the grim reaper to drag him down to the bowels of hell so he may rule the Kingdom, it’s the kind of nightmarish vision that Slayer might consider the perfect subject matter. The first of the guest appearances is on “Death Dealer” which finds Dylan Macaluso of Belvebuth lending his throat. A vicious little ditty upon which the vocal pairing works very well in contrasting tones, this one is another where razor sharp riffs reign supreme. Gavin Fornelli of Windchimes fame joins for “Where No Light Treads” which is the final piece of the puzzle, an affair soaked in Black Metal riffs and brooding atmospherics that stands apart from the earlier cuts as the records finest moment. It has something more captivating about it than the earlier cuts do and by saving the best until last it means you get all of the thought process and developmental steps in reaching that point, which is a thing of beauty [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Permanence
2. Death Descending
3. Death Dealer (ft. Dylan Macaluso of Belvebuth)
4. Where No Light Treads (ft. Gavin Fornelli of Windchimes)

“Self Titled” by Death Descending is out 22nd November 2024 via WormHoleDeath Records and maybe available over at bandcamp