Thy Art Is Murder - Human Target

Key Facts

Country: 🇦🇺

Genre: Deathcore

Release Date: 26th July 2019

Record Label(s): Nuclear Blast

Band Members

Sean Delander – rhythm guitar

Andy Marsh – lead guitar

Kevin Butler – bass

Chris "CJ" McMahon – vocals

Jesse Beahler – drums

Production Personel

Eliran Kantor – artwork

Will Putney – mixing, mastering, production, engineering

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Review

Rating (out of 5🤘): 🤘🤘

Favourite Track(s): Human Target, Eternal Suffering, Voyeurs Of Death

Thy Art Is Murder have returned with a crushing, potentially world beating new album Human Target, but for me it fell very short of the mark. Thy Art are easily one of the most well known deathcore bands from in the scene. Spawning from hell in 2006 just as the deathcore seen was starting to rise from the abyss, we were treated to some barnstorming albums that will instantly be shown to anyone who asks what deathcore is, among them Thy Art's Infinite Death EP (2008), The Adversary (2009) and the infamous Hate (2012). While 2015's Holy War packed a political edge to the bands songwriting and 2017's Dear Desolation being one of the bands stronger albums with a more Cannibal Corpse and Behemoth influence, Human Target feels very lacklustre by comparison. 

Musically, it carries on in the same vein as 2017's Dear Desolation but some of the more basic Meshuggah-esque elements but overall it just sounds like the band has reinvented their wheel for the third time. While the title track Human Target in its single form is easily the strongest of the three singles that band released, but for me the title track was also the strongest song on the entire album. I wanted to like this album but it musically becomes a drag vey quickly. While there are hints and glints of progression and the adapting brilliance that started to appear in Dear Desolation but it seems that the band have taken a step back for every step forward, ultimately going nowhere. While the first half of the album got me moving and beating my chest like a mad gorilla, by the second half the album the lack of variation made my interest in the album decline rapidly. It was like a rollercoaster that never really reached full speed in my opinion. Lyrically and musically, the album is very hit and miss, with Human Target having awesome lyrics and a solid riff, Make America Hate Again sounds like what an angsty teenager would write lyrically which is a real let down for the album. Whilst its good to have influences, Thy Art definitely gorged a bit too much on the Behemoth influence in some sections it felt like it was trying to emulate the Polish legends. There isn't much I can really say but in comparison to previous releases Human Target has fallen flat, I really wanted to believe the hype and like this album but it just never lived up to it in my mind.

It is not all doom and gloom however. Will Putney's mix and production of the album is second to none in regards to deathcore. The guitar and bass tones are heavy and destructive, full of chunkiness and raw distortion. If its one thing I'll always praise Thy Art for its their consideration of the right tones for the right songs and even though the content of the riffs is hit and miss they all sound good sonically. The drums are ear drum poundiogly brutal with a real tightness and completeness, if you catch my drift. With everything having a clear and distinct space in the sonic field the album doesn't feel muddy or cluttered in any shape or form. CJ's vocals sound awesome, the vocal performance itself is one of the strongest I've heard from him (even if the lyrics are hit and miss throughout the album). Overall, the album is really well produced which is a shame in comparison with the music.

Definitely one of my shorter reviews, but I feel a bit let down with this album. A band with the calibre and songwriting experience of Thy Art you expect more from them this far down the line. Hopefully the next album sees them return to form and the Thy Art we all know and love. 

Thy Art Is Murder - Human Target