Essex based 5-piece Beyond Extinction possess the all-encompassing formula to catapult them into the death metal titan territory, and their debut EP The Fatal Flaws of Humankind perpetuates their guaranteed ascent to the throne. The EP consists of 4 ear-splitting death metal tunes that give a new, more accurate definition to the word ‘heavy,’ both in musicality and in lyrical themes.
Opening track and lead single ‘God Complex’ employs machine-gunning bass from Niall Ivie and drummer Niall Oreo, the lyrics tackling dark and distressing issues of the human psyche and nihilism. The bands’ mere average age of 17 can easily be mistaken for a group of wise old wizards bubbling with knowledge, flowing white hair, and ancient wooden staffs teeming with magical power…but that’s Gandalf you’re thinking of, and this murder of ravens dressed in youthful human skin are not here to help but instead act as judge, jury, and executioner. The drop of vocalist’s Jasper Harmer’s deathcore breakdown ‘no forgiveness’, sets alight a blazing spark of rage and aggression against those with “defective thoughts and chains unlinked,” guitarists Jude Bennet and Zachary Scott marrying riffs that chop and change throughout that offers new rhythms to mosh to.
When we hear the term ‘apex predator,’ we think of gormless sharks and prehistoric reptiles with bone crushing jaws and impenetrable hides; but humans, with our boundless intelligence, complex overlapping and often confusing emotions, are capable of much worse. “Murder, violence, consented to death, complicit in silence,” followed by an agonisingly filthy distorted guitar riff that drags it’s way across the end of the track, like a wounded amputee crawling toward the merciful light. “Tormentor, oppressor/Kneel before, the apex predator.”
A faster and more urgent riff lead tune, ‘Bones Likes Branches’ is a soundtrack befitting an epileptic seizure, the depth of Harmer’s guttural vocals all but mimic brown noise as it resides in the pit of your stomach. The lyrics “you can’t stitch a mouth because you’re scared of the words/You can’t live your life as part of a herd, and be surprised when you’re fucking murdered,” describes the unbiased treatment bestowed upon wrongdoers by the bitch Karma herself.
The EP’s closing track slows down with a cleanly plucked guitar intro, and we’re given a glimpse of the diversity the infant band are capable of in ‘A Face Without Features.’ A loose, bass groove leads the way into the body of the track before hammering, acidic drums rain down and dissolves all that it touches, quite literally melting faces. The EP’s swan song is a dedication to the hypocrisy of Christianity and religion; “On rolls the thunder, here comes the storm. Our god saw it first but he chose not to warn,” damning the lack of philosophical reasoning regarding a god who could create so much pain and not take action against it. “Open your eyes. Blinded by the light. Written in blood, a face without features.”
The Fatal Flaws of Humankind is a formidable debut EP, and Beyond Extinction ooze with an aura of potentially wrecking havoc in the music scene when it makes a colossal return. For more touring and band information, including purchasing the record and merchandise, head to their official website here or follow their social medias linked below.
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