Review by Maciek on April 11, 2015.

Musicians from Swiss Defaced started playing together in 2006 under a different name (released only a demo and an EP as Trigger Tones) and this is their second full-length album (previous "On the Frontline" was released in 2012). Unfortunately I didn't have opportunity to hear their previous LPs, so I'm going to focus on the material that is currently on my headphones.

Usually I am not keen on describing music from album that I'm currently reviewing using the name of just one genre. Mostly because in 90% of cases what I can hear is not for example pure death metal and I actually like it, to me such albums always have an advantage against other, more purist material.

First of all death metal presented by Defaced has some elements of grind core - low tuned guitars, bass line put quite in the front and distorted, low growling vocals. Then there is also black-metal-ish shrieking with quite blackened chords, which remind of Swedish school of black metal (Dark Funeral or Marduk). It is a material consisting all kinds of variety of fast-paced riffs, with nearly each track having different technique used. As always, any solos get some extra points in my reviews, although in this particular case there's room for improvement in establishing the style as sometimes they sound slightly too cautious to me. But the overall complexity of riffs, the changing of melody lines or changing techniques during the same melody line are impressive and the whole album is really full of good ideas on how to record solid death metal album, executed with a really high level of technical perfection. I would probably put it on the shelf with Katalepsy, with close proximity to Carcass (the earlier one) as well. The sound is quite clean, you can clearly hear both guitars and bass (the album has been mixed in Hertz Studio in Poland), no unnecessary reverbs in the background, only occassional 3 guitar lines, creating additional space when needed and bass only slightly distorted, which is a good choice in my opinion.

Each track really has something else to offer. The first represents the kind of death metal/grind core mixture played by Katalepsy, second is more black metal, third has some psychodelic, dysharmonic riffs, which change to melodic during solo (brilliant passage by the way), in fourth you can hear faster passages, which Marduk would be proud of, fifth reminds of Hypocrisy-style death metal, sixth is quite chaotic (in a good way) with frequent changes in tempo, seventh also quite frantic, fast-paced with some solos reminding of Paradise Lost, eight a bit more organised, with riffs that bring to mind some of the best Hate tracks, ninth is the most melodic on this album, with really good solos, tenth probably has to be my top track because of fragment from my favourite Hellraiser: Inferno halfway through the track and the eleventh track ("End of Torment") is a good closing composition with brilliant solo.

Various flavours of extreme metal can be found on this album, strong recommendation for fans of all styles mentioned above with really good sound production. I already can't wait for their third album, as I'm superstitious and I think it will be the best.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by ChadL on May 8, 2002.

From a country who's metal scene is known primarily for spandex wearing power metal wankers rehashing Iron Maiden riffs, Germany's Sanitys Dawn's second effort "Mangled In The Meatgrinder" is here to punch you right in the face with their take Carcass / Impetigo school of gore/grind.

Right from the opening track, you know you're in for one hell of aural assault, and believe it or not, it's a fun one. The style here is not one that is original, as they play old school gore/grind ala "Symphonies Of Sickness" era Carcass. This is not to say that they are a rip off of the former band, because they take what Carcass started and speed it up, not to mention add their own flavor to it. What is unique about Sanitys Dawn is that unlike many of their peer in the gore/grind scene, they actually posses a great amount of musical talent. While some bands simply turn up the bass drum and bottom end guitar and bass in the mix to suffocate and cover up the sub-par musician ship and top it off with gurglely vocals, Sanitys Dawn has a very clear sound that allows every instrument to be heard in all its blood drenched glory. Although the instruments are audible, the album still has that organic, old school sound which really helps the atmosphere of the music. Creative riffs and excellent song structures abound throughout the sixteen tracks on this 41-minute album. The rhythm section is extremely tight and devastating in its approach, keeping you headbanging throughout. The vocals are mostly gurgling (if you don't like those kind of vocals, don't dismiss this album yet, as they are done well, and fit the music perfectly without sounding too ridiculous), along with some really cool sounding burps! Many bands that play this style have a tendency to put the vocals much too loud in the mix, but the vocals on this album are the perfect volume.

This style might not appeal to every metalhead, but for what they do, along with Exhumed, Sanitys Dawn does it well. Despite the gross out lyrical content and brutal music, this album has a really upbeat vibe running through it, and it's just fun to listen to when your in the mood for something raw with an old school attitude to it. And as a great little break from the brutality, there is a 10 second or so polka breakdown, complete with accordions in the last song, before it pummels you once more. Don't be surprised if it makes its way into your CD player often.

Bottom Line: For fans of Carcass, Exhumed or similar bands, this will be a welcome addition to you collection. Defiantly at the top of the heap in the gore/grind scene.

Categorical Ratings Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Originality: 7
Production: 9
Overall: 8

Rating: 8.2 out of 10