The metal underground has always embodied a certain mystique, and the prospect of checking out the scene’s latest foreign exports always intensifies it. Just as fans from Europe and Asia find a special thrill in discovering the hidden treasures of semi-obscure U.S. labels, we Americans have a similar fetish for overseas product. With the demise of such underground entities as Italy’s Headfucker Records, I am becoming increasingly grateful for the few veteran European labels that have managed to keep business going over the long haul. In effect, their tenacity inspires us to look abroad when searching for something new and brutal.

At present, labels such as Listenable Records are enjoying more attention than ever from the American underground. Granted, our «exotic» fascination with their band roster might be increasing due to the fact that many Americans can’t locate France on a world map. But I prefer to think that the growing numbers of stellar death metal/grindcore bands from the «other side of the pond» is a major factor (though I promise to rant about my geographically-challenged countrymen in a future installment). To add some credence to my claim, I would like to present a Belgian death-grind act known as Aborted. They may have yet to gain a strong U.S. following, but this quintet of miscreants has shown great potential over the course of three albums.

Not having heard their debut, I will have to start with the band’s 1999 release, «The Purity of Perversion». Simply put, the album was a death metal tour-de-force which set a strong precedent for things to come. But where Aborted tended to falter was in the area of distinction. There was little that separated them from the pack, and their influences were too prominent to allow for the development of a true identity. Nonetheless, for all its energy and skillful execution, TPoP was at least an enjoyable listen.

Turning back to the present, we have «Engineering The Dead», which surpasses its predecessor in nearly every category. My first hint that this disc was more than a tedious retread was the superior rhythmic assault of drummer Frank. At times, the percussion is so frantic and precise that I have to wonder if any studio «cheats» (i.e. triggers, multiple drum tracks) were used in the recording process. Whatever the case, Frank’s flawless delivery gives the impression of being trapped in the eye of a tornado. While not entirely original, the vocals of Sven are a slight departure from the death metal norm. His modus operandi consists of hitting the listener with a barrage of gravelly shouts, rather than resorting to the usual methods of throat torture. Guitarists Nick and Thijs (what??? Do these guys mean to tell me that Severe Torture’s Thijs isn’t the only vowel-deprived axe slinger on the scene today?) provide numerous Cannibal Corpse-inspired riff fests which are every bit as deranged as they are technically demanding.

As expected, the lyrics rarely stray from the usual «death ‘n gore» themes. But with their strong grasp of the English language, lyricists Nick and Sven manage to pen a few verses which add some humor to the mix. Then there’s the issue of sampling; in most cases, I find samples to be dull and contrived (can you remember the last death-grind band that didn’t use them? Me neither), but I have to give Aborted some credit for their excellent choice of sources. The sound bytes include dialogue from such films as Hellraiser and Re-Animator, along with a press release on the initial search of Jeffrey Dahmer’s Milwaukee apartment. An especially disquieting sample is tacked on to the end of the CD, which features Dahmer extending his condolences to the families of his victims.

«Engineering The Dead» is well worth the time you might spend seeking it out. U.S. distro is through Relapse, but our non-U.S. readers will probably want to look at http://www.listenable.net for further info.

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