Review: “Fátum” by Damnation

Led by ex-Thy Catafalque guitarist János Juhász and featuring in their ranks musicians known for their work in Needless, Gort and Morbid Carnage to name but a few, Hungarian Death Metal act Damnation have been a growing concern since their inception in 2020. It would be another year before they announced themselves to an unsuspecting World with debut EP “Majesty in Degradation“, the record finding the band stylistically in an era of Death Metal in the vein of bands like Incantation, Morbid Angel or Gorefest. Three years on the quintet entered Obsidian Sound Studio to record their debut full length album “Fátum” with drummer Árpád Szenti recording, mixing and mastering. Contemplating the mortality of the universe, shrouded by a dark, dense atmospherics as it dwells on one of the earliest fears of humankind; existential angst set in a celestial scale…

While their debut EP would be in English, despite not having a change of vocalist the band switch to their native Hungarian for their debut album, so we’ve translated the song titles to give you an insight into the lyrical narratives created by vocalist Ádám Forczek. The album begins with a powerhouse offering in”Belső Kapuk a Világűrbe” (or “Inner Gates to Outer Space“), a brutal cut that is reminiscent of Decapitated or God Syndrome with a thunderous drum sound and enough monstrous riffs to fill a poison chalice. Death grows from Forczek reach bowl clenching lows as this juggernaut charges down the freeway but he has more to offer with shriller moments cutting the through them like sharpened blades. The churning riffs and skull battering percussion show no sign of abating with “Halandó Mindenség” (or “Mortal Everything“), bursts of blasting and jackhammer footwork enough to make you want to spit your teeth out in protest at the sonic abrasions. A down tuned dark brooding introduction brings “Lennvilág” (or “Netherworld“) to life, the groove laden riffs and almost ritualistic vocal performance permeated with moments of spoken word a headbangers delight.

A soaring solo with Progressive Death Metal leanings in the haunting final moments is a stunning addition, the underpinning synths rising to the surface in fleeting moments. A tornado of tormented souls escape from the throat of Forczek with a brutal roar as the menacing and sinister “Múlás” (or “Lapse“) hits like a sledge hammer. Another concrete slab of Death Metal with a rich and vibrant solo in the final moments, it finds the bands evoking memories of the so called golden era of the 90’s when bands like Deicide were Kings. A whammy bar drop solo and a Death Thrash inspired opening moment give “Antiverzum” (or “Antiverse“) something a little different before getting you into a head lock and charging head first into oncoming traffic. Forczek sounds like he’s gone feral, screaming at the sun to set him ablaze while the spine juddering kit work is nothing short of incredible. This one also has a moment of 80’s science fiction horror nostalgia with a drone like pattern offering a moment of clarity, a nice touch given the full on nature of this beast of an album.

The intense riffs return as the urgent “Holocén Alkony” (or “Holocene Dusk“) seeks to put a hole in your skull to let the darkness out, the track lyrically providing the title to the album. Another battering ram, it bludgeons like a thief in the night looking to make his escape into the shadows with your prized possessions, Szenti nailing the mix perfectly so that everything has its rightful place and nothing is drowned out. The rumbling bass on “A Paraziták Vándorlása” (or “The Migration of Parasites“) is enough to put cracks in the concrete of even the most well built foundations, it’s murky atmosphere and restless and relentless kit work a pleasure you can’t measure. János Juhász and his accomplice Tamás Bárány create the kind of riffs that Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold loves, their abilities to create an abundance of Death Groove without flinching deserving of note.

Decimating the weak and thinning the heard “Rejtőzködő Fajok a Kvantumok Birodalmában” (or “Hiding Species in the Quantum Realm“) brings crushing wave after crushing wave of guitars that will make you lose your mind. Their sheer power is enough to move mountains as Damnation destroy everything in their path before the monstrous “Zsigerlét” (or “Visceral juice“) churns things up once again. At points almost monolithic with riffs fit for worship, things then get hotter and more intense with cleverly worked tempo shifts as Forczek does an impression of an alien being from beyond the void. That makes way for an almost ethereal introduction to grand finale “Az Idő Áramlatai” (or “Currents of Time“), a cut front loaded with razor sharp riffs, blood and thunder rhythmic battery and a vicious vocal performance. As if that wasn’t enough fun for one night, a classical piano piece rises from the black depths, rounding this dance macabre off in style [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Belső Kapuk a Világűrbe
2. Halandó Mindenség
3. Lennvilág
4. Múlás
5. Antiverzum
6. Holocén Alkony
7. A Paraziták Vándorlása
8. Rejtőzködő Fajok a Kvantumok Birodalmában
9. Zsigerlét
10. Az Idő Áramlatai

“Fátum” by Damnation is out 18th February 2024 via Pest Records with pre-orders available over at bandcamp.