Artist: Devourment
Country: USA
Label: Relapse Records
Formats: 7″ EP
Year: 2026
Brutal Death Metal doesn’t feature on these pages all that often, but that doesn’t mean we’re not up for it. Certainly not when it comes to Devourment. Like so many others, the band was formed with the aim of becoming the most brutal and hardest band ever, but unlike most, they actually succeeded and, perhaps to their own surprise, have managed to retain that title over time. But it wasn’t just their consistently recognisable music that kept people talking; the death of original singer Wayne Knupp, the imprisonment of Ruben Rosas, and the many break-ups and cancelled gigs all played their part in cementing their notoriety.
Ever since the band debuted with their ‘Impaled’ demo tape back in 1997, recorded and released shortly after their foundation in 1995, and their infamous ‘Molesting The Decapitated’ album in 1999, Devourment has been one of the biggest influences of what had become Brutal Death Metal. And even now, some thirty years on, ‘Molesting The Decapitated’ still tops the list of favourites for anyone with a soft spot for the genre. Its follow-up, ‘Butcher The Weak’ , which was initially released independently by the band, also remains a fan favourite. The magic and the untouchable status of those early years may well have faded a little, partly because the band now diligently fulfils its concert commitments and occasionally releases new material, but when that material is unleashed upon us, it is clear that the band has lost none of its musical spirit and intensity.
This is proven once again by their latest release, ‘Pious Impiety’, which came out earlier this summer via their long-time label, Relapse Records. This is their first release since the critically acclaimed ‘Obscene Majesty’ from 2019, but just as on all previous occasions, the Devourment concept remains rock-solid and unmistakably recognisable. The iconic drumming, packed with tempo changes and unrivalled snare drum speeds, and the thunderous vocals leave no room for doubt: this is Devourment through and through. The deep, chugging riffs, sometimes groovy, sometimes chopping, round off the list of ingredients. But most importantly: Devourment knows how to write songs, even within the framework of this genre built purely on heaviness and brutality. Whilst many of their peers often lose their way in their quest for the top by placing far too much emphasis on how heavy they can be, Devourment always manages to stay on top with a surprisingly simple approach to song writing.
Many have made a bid for the throne, but apart from Brodequin, no other band has ever managed to come anywhere near it. Devourment may not be a particularly prolific band, but whenever they do release something, you know you can buy it blindly. ‘Pious Impiety’ is a near-perfect exercise in Brutal Death Metal and certainly holds its own against the band’s classic material.
