31 Jul 2021

Album review: Dagtum – Revered Decadence (2021)


Dagtum – Revered Decadence

The Philippines

Eastbreath Records / BRC-30 Productions

It is bad luck that the power went out as I am about to write this review. Loadshedding is common in my country. Fortunately, my laptop was fully charged before it happened. Now I'm sitting here in the dark listening to Dagtum, a Filipino band that plays dissonant and weird death metal with sludge elements. I guess the darkness surrounding me adds to the experience of listening to this band's debut album, "Revered Decadence", as the album is brimming with darkness and has a decadent atmosphere. The music itself is not really fast, but mostly moves at a slow to mid tempo full of off-kilter riffs that brings to mind a slower Immolation. The sound is also fairly reminiscent of a band like Ulcerate, including that nailing double bass that is used sporadically to add intensity. The drums are quite prominent and can be heard clearly in the mix, as can the bass. The band churns out some hard-hitting riffs and captivates the listener with a truly dense atmosphere. Three bands come to mind when listening to Dagtum: Immolation, Gorguts and Ulcerate. Whether they are influenced by these bands or not, I do not know, but the trace elements and comparisons are undeniable. Dagtum are definitely on the right track, and the debut album certainly has some truly captivating moments. The whole album glides through a series of seemingly quirky riffs and polyrhythmic segments, but they are pared down enough to maintain a certain level of cohesion. There's a lot of detail, but it's also easy to follow, making it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. It took me about three tracks to get the gist of their music, so for the average listener, patience is a virtue. “Revered Decadence” will be released on 30th of August via Eastbreath Records and BRC-30 Productions. (HT)