Introduction
D.R.E.P. is an industrial black metal band from the Netherlands. The band has been around since 1998 and has previously released three singles. Drastically Reducing Earth’s Population is the band’s first album and also happens to be the band’s name. D.R.E.P.’S three members have ties to other black and death metal acts such as Duivel, Allfather and The Monolith Deathcult. The long-awaited album is now out on both cassette and vinyl by Nomad Snakepit Productions.
I was intrigued to check out this album when I read the extreme album title and saw the factory cover on the Black metal promotion YouTube channel. I’ve spun this heavy hitting album a few times and here is my review.
Drastically Reducing Earth’s Population
Drastically Reducing Earth’s Population is 26 minutes of hateful Dutch black metal. This album flies by extremely fast but is still packed with distorted riffs, ripping vocals, and powerful lyrics. The best part is that the lyrics are sung in the bands’ mother tongue, Dutch. The album contains six songs that ranges between two and six minutes.
The vocal duties are shared among all three members: Kombustar, Havoque, and Deportator. Their abhorrent style makes it stand out from the very first note, evoking a similar grit to that of Gollum in Lord of the Rings. All songs are performed in Dutch, which complements the band’s sound. The Dutch language’s hard consonants are perfect for black metal!
Tracklist
- Wereldreinheid
- Mensendamp
- Beenderendans
- Karkassenkoets
- Aardelating
- Nedergang
The pace of the songs are fast and violent, propelled mainly by the drums, which have a round and full sound. From what I understand, the drums on the album are programmed. Although they sound good overall, they can occasionally overpower the other instruments.
The overall sound of the album is industrial, with hints of bestial black metal, punk, and speed. Some songs feature slower parts that are fantastic, enhancing the brutality of the faster sections and making the songs more memorable. I recommend that listeners read the lyrics of the songs while listening, as this can deepen their understanding of the album’s message.
Highlights
Aardelating is the fifth and best track of the album. It opens violently with relentless drums and deafening guitars, and the harsh vocals persist throughout the track. The song also includes some slower sections that are sure to make listeners bang their heads.
I highly recommend this thrilling track as a prime example of the angry tone of the album.
Conclusion
Drastically Reducing Earth’s Population is a fantastic debut that lays a solid foundation for the band’s future material. I highly recommend this album to fans of fast-paced black metal and those who appreciate the Germanic vocal style.
BMZ Score: 7 / 10
Links
Bandcamp: D.R.E.P. | OFFICIAL
Facebook: D.R.E.P | Facebook
Instagram: D.R.E.P. @wereldreinheid
YouTube: D.R.E.P. – DREP playlist
Metal Archives: D.R.E.P. – Encyclopaedia Metallum
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