Artist: Death Yell
Country: Chile
Label: Hells Headbangers Records
Formats: LP / Cassette Tape CD
Year: 2025
If you’re talking about old Latin American Extreme Metal, it is categorically impossible to skip Death Yell. For the majority of the people living outside of South America, Death Yell might best (or even only) be known for their contribution to the split 7” EP with Beherit released by Turbo Music in the fall of 1991, but that was completely different for those who were closer to the action. Alongside bands such as Atomic Aggressor, Sadism, Pentagram, Torturer, and Totten Korps, Death Yell can be seen as one of the catalysts of the Extreme Metal scene in Chile. Not that all these bands really resemble each other that much, but just like everywhere else at the time, the scene was small and everyone involved supported and influenced each other.
When I started listening to Extreme Metal Death Yell belonged to those rather legendary bands from the past and it was quite difficult to find any of their recordings. That changed when Nuclear War Now! Productions compiled some old recordings on the ‘Morbid Rites’ double LP in 2007. A release that still stands proud, not only in terms of its musical content but also because it proved to be the spark that later reunited the band.
Now, fast forward to 2025, we are welcoming Death Yell’s second full-length album, preceded by two split 7” EP’s in 2013 and 2016 (with Atomic Aggressor and Morbosatan respectively) and their long-awaited debut full-length record, ‘Descent Into Hell’ (Hells Headbangers Records, 2017). And although many, if not most, bands returning after such a long absence release material of questionable quality at best, that was definitely not the case with Death Yell. ‘Demons Of Lust’ too, is a record that holds high the feeling of Latin American savagery.
Compared to many of their peers around those late 80’s, Death Yell always had a bit more of a Black Metal edge to their Death Metal. That was the case with their cult demo ‘Vengeance From Darkness’ (1989), but they did not drop that with the later, post-reunion releases and it even came to full fruition on ‘Descent Into Hell’. It is fair to conclude that their blend of Black- and Death Metal has even found a more organic balance on this new album. Raspy and mean-sounding vocals, razor sharp riffing and the archetypical chaotic bursts of violent rhythms: it is all there. However, it now sounds both more thoughtful and authentic than ever before. The raw and rough sound fits seamlessly into the tradition of wild South American Extreme Metal, yet it is not so gargantuan that it descends into total chaos. Somehow, the band has retained its youthful recklessness while managing to keep everything under control. In that respect, the band is perhaps most reminiscent of their northern neighbours of Goat Semen or less-structured Adorior. But, of course, none of this comes as a surprise. Death Yell is still a go-to band for fans who can’t get enough of anything based on the old gods like old Possessed, old Sarcófago, old Necrophagia, old Sepultura, old Sodom, old Sextrash, old……..
