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The Rotten Ways of Human Misery (1993)
Blackthorn was a death metal band from Mexico, though you’d be forgiven for thinking they came out of Florida. Their sole L.P. The Rotten Ways of Human Misery was recorded in 1992 and sounds like a cross between Leprosy-era Death and Obituary’s Cause of Death. This is a style that deserved more followers than the flood of Suffocation clones that clogged the '90s death metal scene.
The vocals are raspy and deathlike, far superior to the guttural approach that had become standard by this point. Why bands thought the deeper growls were better is beyond me, as it takes away an important element from this kind of music. The more old school style adds a morbid vibe to the material, which works perfectly with the atmosphere they managed to conjure at times, evoking a true sense of horror. It feels like an album that could have been released in ’89 or ’90, capturing the early death metal feeling perfectly. There are still bits of thrash in the riffing which was a common thing in the old days, just one more characteristic that makes this sound older than it actually is.
The musicianship is tight throughout, with solid solos, strong structures, no sloppiness. The songwriting stays coherent throughout, and the album is remarkably consistent. There are no obvious low points. Standouts include “Throes of Death” and “Harrowing Beheading,” but really, the whole record holds up. While The Rotten Ways of Human Misery is clearly derivative of its influences, it's done so well that it stands up to anything else released that year.
The vocals are raspy and deathlike, far superior to the guttural approach that had become standard by this point. Why bands thought the deeper growls were better is beyond me, as it takes away an important element from this kind of music. The more old school style adds a morbid vibe to the material, which works perfectly with the atmosphere they managed to conjure at times, evoking a true sense of horror. It feels like an album that could have been released in ’89 or ’90, capturing the early death metal feeling perfectly. There are still bits of thrash in the riffing which was a common thing in the old days, just one more characteristic that makes this sound older than it actually is.
The musicianship is tight throughout, with solid solos, strong structures, no sloppiness. The songwriting stays coherent throughout, and the album is remarkably consistent. There are no obvious low points. Standouts include “Throes of Death” and “Harrowing Beheading,” but really, the whole record holds up. While The Rotten Ways of Human Misery is clearly derivative of its influences, it's done so well that it stands up to anything else released that year.
(4 May 2025)
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