To follow the seven-year trajectory that is Languish’s ascent from debut to their third and most recent offering is rewarding and comforting. The Arizonan death grinders were born as an independent group that had neither the backing of a record label nor even song titles for their first album, opting instead to use Roman numerals. Now, the foursome has harnessed the support of Prosthetic Records and is finally starting to carve out a compelling identity, and that journey crescendos with Feeding The Flames Of Annihilation, the first full-length to feature artwork that isn’t monochromatic. 

And that can’t be an accident.

Languish started off finding their feet with Extinction, a record blanketed underneath death-doom elements. The sophomoric Unworthy focused largely on fuzz, dissonant production and grindcore techniques. However, Feeding The Flames… sees vocalist Sean Mears, guitarist Matt Mutterperl, drummer Zack Hansen and live bassist Ryan Bram fit all the various pieces into a well-defined, polished twenty-six minutes of wrath and disorder. 

If I may date myself here, it’s a soundtrack for the lead-up to an ultra combo achieved in Killer Instinct. 

The adage “the third time’s a charm” is both overused and unfair because Languish were never inept or in over their head. The band evolved, experimented and incorporated a leave-no-stones-unturned mindset. They kept a stash of tried-and-true antics and discarded what they felt didn’t fit the desired mold.

With this current record, the vocals retain some of that foggy ambience from previous tracks. The percussion is a bustling stampede that leaves one’s head spinning and nearly promotes playing chicken with an Acela train. ‘Ripped Remains’ is doused in acid before being dipped in magma. 

The reds and whites donning the cover artwork stands as a metaphor for the band’s transformation, whereas the black and white monotony represent the cutting room floor. 

Languish’s true nature is beginning to not only blossom, but thrive. What sets them apart is becoming ever more vibrant and flamboyant, two words not typically used to describe an emerging death/grind band.

Buy the album here: https://languish.bandcamp.com/album/feeding-the-flames-of-annihilation

8 / 10

MATT COOK