I can describe the technical level of DECREPIT BIRTH as just breathtaking, the music is chopped, sawn and bounced, so that after a short while, all taste buds are knotted and the neck vertebrae seem to breakdance. Fortunately, the musicians integrate some of the slowest passages, such as the spherical first part of Spirit Guide. Afterwards, however, flickering guitar riffs, a grunting voice and a whole lot of complex rhythms take up the listener again. Weird tempo, jazzy harmonies and a lot of rhythmic changes (over)challenge me, but there are also a few strange keyboard plays, some vocal variations and catchy sequences, which together form an extremely complicated, hard to take sound formation. We can hardly find any gripping songs or hooks on Axis Mundi, but in between, DECREPIT BIRTH gives us melodic solos, but for a bigger part, the technical pickaxe and a ferocious voice dominate - that is pure aggression. From time to time, the band integrates sluggish elements that build an apocalyptic mood, as in the course of the tune Hieroglyphic, where oriental melodies come into operation according to the title.
On this album, I miss hearty passages; the record is cold, repulsive and inaccessible in its technical precision. The few harmonious inserts soothe the strained nerves only marginally and therefore it is very strenuous to overcome the constant bombardment of neck-breaker parts, lively solos and hectic vocal performances without damage. Axis Mundi does not have any structures to hold on; only rarely you can relax with beautiful melodies or bang-compatible drums, before the next hurried attack blows away the touch of grip. The instrumental interlude Empryogenesis falls completely out of the frame because of the easily digestible way of playing and lowers the heart rate. The epic Orion (yes, it is a Metallica cover!) and Desperate Cry (Sepultura, unfortunately all other than outstanding concerning the vocals) surprise then with sensitivity, deceleration and cordiality. What a pity that these attributes are seldom sown on this clinically sterile plant, which considerably reduces the memory worthiness.
The technical aspect of the work arouses respect, but I'm not getting warm with this album because of the missing “out-of-the-belly”-approach, even the monotonous grunting voice does not get under my skin. I can therefore only recommend Axis Mundi to absolute fetishists of finger exercises, who do not disturb on tinny drums and have fun with complex excesses.