Review at Thoughts Of Metal

Thoughts Of Metal released a review of Epitaph...

A few months ago (I'm writing this in August, so it was April then) I reviewed DEBAUCHERY's newest release, "Continue To Kill", which is a better album than its predecessor "Back In Blood". The reason why I mention this band is because bassist Marc Jüttner and guitarist Simon Dorn, both now ex-members it seems, decided to create their own band to offer some good old solid Death Metal, instead of the Death Metal meets AC/DC kind of music. The idea originated in 2007 and so THY FINAL PAIN was born. Since it was just the two of them, they didn't have to await other approval or take notice of other input. Hence the use of a drummachine. Live the band has gotten the assistance of Sascha Weber (guitars) and Lukas Nicol (drums), both from DUAL MENTALITY.
A first release came out several months ago, on the 26th of March, and was titled "Epitaph". It's a self-release, since THY FINAL PAIN is still unsigned. Marc and Simon have set the following direction as THY FINAL PAIN: "The songs of THY FINAL PAIN are about the ultimate and final pain which is to be felt within the last moments of life, where one will be confronted with the weakness and the ambivalence of one's lifework. Feelings and impressions of the whole human lifetime are shown from different views and are described in words anybody might easily understand." The music is described as Massive Rhythmic Death Metal and that's what you get.
The "Epitaph" starts with the midtempo basher "My Temptation", setting the tone for the rest of the album. Gutteral growls, ultraheavy riffing and bonecrushing drums, although I must add the playing sounds rather simplistic. And that's not only the case here, although it must be said that further down the tracklisting the situation improves a lot. Examples of that are "Lord Of Children's Dreams", where the tempo varies between mid and up. There's a nice fluctuation. Even the band's own song, "Thy Final Pain" has a nice change in tempo and the vocals remind of mainly Jan-Chris de Koeijer (GOREFEST) and a bit of Karl Willets (BOLT THROWER). It is one of the better songs on the album, though.
As midtempo dictates the law for the majority of the songs, things can also go a bit slower without really leaving the midtempo range. Proof of that is delivered by "Black In My Life", which has something KATAKLYSM-ic. Or how about "Emptiness", where neither speed nor technicality are important, more the overall flow and how well it can be absorbed by the listener's ears. Again KATAKLYSM comes to mind at a certain point. Not that THY FINAL PAIN is a clone or that this influence is a black mark on the music, not at all. This Canadian band is even one of my favourite Death Metal bands, but only because of their last few works ("Epic - The Poetry Of War" and later).
Focussing back on the midtempo stuff, there's the splendid "Obey", which has a very enjoyable rhythm and that alone makes it very much worthwile. "Revenge For All" and "Revelations Of Death" are also quite decent, although the other songs have something that makes them a little more interesting. But that also depends on your taste. Nevertheless, there are no flaws here.
Ofcourse, tempo changes also mean there must be fast(er) material. Rest assured, for what Marc and Simon have created are a lust for the ear. Take note of "Found Myself In Death", the first to increase the pace, the fast and excellent "Wrath Of The Insane" and last but not least, the midtempo-with-uptempo-attacks "Speaking Through The Black Heart". Its uptempo attacks are truly worth bonus points and I can only advise this duo to continue making such songs, or implementing such changes.
The Death Metal genre has become overcrowded the past few years, kicking Power Metal off the throne - it's hard nowadays to find decent Power Metal - and THY FINAL PAIN is another contender on the battlefield. "Epitaph" has a clear and powerful sound and the music contains influences (logically) from bands like GOREFEST, ILLDISPOSED, KATAKLYSM, BOLT THROWER, maybe some BEHEMOTH, and the likes. Rhythmic Death Metal is surely is, as it's all about rhythm here. Sadly enough, there aren't any solos, which is both good and bad. Let's hope this will be the case next time or wouldn't that make it rhythmic Death Metal anymore? That's just the only problem I have with this debut album. Oh yes, real drums on the next album(s)? Other than that, if you're into Death Metal (not the kind that brutally slays all in its path, mostly via blastbeats), and like the mentioned bands, then THY FINAL PAIN is a band you simply have to check out and support, for there is no lack of passion here.