Decrepit Birth - Diminishing Between Worlds

When I recently told a non-metalhead friend about Decrepit Birth, he burst out laughing. Yes, the name is ridiculous; for me, it evokes the baby skeleton that's Cannibal Corpse's occasional mascot. But Decrepit Birth have never been about gore. Their lyrics have always been spacy and abstract, in the vein of Atheist and Cynic. Yet the band's first full-length, ...And Time Begins, was brutal, technical death metal typical for Unique Leader.

The Living Doorway
Diminishing Between Worlds

Five years later, Decrepit Birth are vastly changed. Only guitarist Matt Sotelo and vocalist Bill Robinson remain from the original lineup. Replacing Derek Boyer (Suffocation) and Tim Yeung (Divine Heresy) are 3/4 of Odious Mortem. Former live session guitarist Mike Turner was convicted for child molestation and sexual battery. Such turmoil deeply affected main songwriter Sotelo.

Now Decrepit Birth have a sound to match their lyrics. The sound is, for lack of a better word, melodic (which now seems to connote conformity with Western tonalities; even the most atonal-seeming music can be "melodic," but Western listeners seem not to apply the word unless music fulfills certain culturally conditioned criteria). Decrepit Birth have reached back to later Death's extended 9ths, Atheist's flowing harmonies, and Cynic's astral clean tones.

However, the foundation is still technical death metal. The performances and production are clinically precise. Atheist and Cynic sound downright loose in comparison. Just as important as sound, though, are songs. Now Decrepit Birth's got 'em. In a world again glutted with death metal records, this one will last longer than most.

Diminishing Between Worlds is available from Unique Leader, Interpunk, CM Distro, and Relapse.