Since last year, I've been slowly delving further into the Indian metal scene. With bands such as the blackened death metallers Demonic Resurrection or melodic djentlemen What Escapes Me, I've been floored at the diversity and talent. A common characteristic, or rather lack of commonality, is the fact that these groups seem to be all across the board regarding subgenres. Such a stylistic unpredictability was likely the main factor that lured me into this scene as I believe the American metal community is hitting many dead ends.
Although America and Europe seem to be constantly overflowing with death metal groups, Plague Throat seems to be amongst the few from India that are true to the genre's roots. Their debut EP, An Exordium to Contagion, was a tease at the pure intensity this trio was capable of conjuring. And that's right, you heard me correctly. The probably most impressive aspect of this band is the fact that it only consists of three musicians where it sounds like there's at least five. Frontman Nangsan, bassist Jerry Nelson Ranee, and drummer Malice mostly stay aligned with the delivery of traditional death metal, but add in brutal and technical elements similar to Hour of Penance.
"Inherited Failure" is a take no prisoners opener. With the exception of a slight groove at parts, this track prides itself on the relentless factor. Following a similar moral code, "Dominion Breach" separates the intensity into bite size chunks through the use of catchy, but still heavy riffs. In the latter half of The Faceless-esque "Conception Subjection," a guitar solo is placed ever so gently over the blast beats. And maybe my proggy bias is showing, but I found that moment to be the most compelling of this record along with the rhythmical diversity of "Conflict Resolution." Closing piece, "Ma Nga," has a primitive vibe alike to Sepultura's earlier death-thrash. Although there are many other solid tracks on this record, these songs struck me as the highlights.
Depending on one's relationship or rather loyalty with traditional death metal, I feel that the unmentioned tracks are somewhat lacking in impact. Considering the main fundamentals of the genre were created over 25 years ago, I view trad death to have potentially stale and formulaic qualities nowadays depending on the execution. When modern bands insist on staying true to the sounds and styles of early Death or Morbid Angel in the mid 80's, I personally become a bit confused as I feel a need for progression. While I completely understand an artist's choice to be dedicated to the traditions of a genre, I believe evolution and experimentation are necessary to avoid predictability. And for that very reason, the melodic, symphonic, brutal, slam, and tech-death subgenres were birthed. As for The Human Paradox, a majority of the tracks are spiced and seasoned with variety of the aforementioned subgenres, but others like "Fallible Transgression" or the title track seem to fall flat due to an over dependence on trad death tropes and repetition.
The Human Paradox has moments that feel claustrophobic, packed tight with death metal characteristics. For some ears, that intensity is a turn-on, but I feel a focus on dynamics would've benefitted some of these songs greater. Luckily, there are some quite powerful songs with an intelligent and unique side included. In the end though, all three members do well in balancing the extremes of trad death and the pizzazz of stylistic variety for their debut LP. My hopes are that Plague Throat reveal even further progression in future releases for the sake of expanding the death metal genre.
Score: 8/10
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOFtl7NyroI[/youtube]
