Enemy – Outpatient Brain Amputation Review

Sometimes fate deals a good hand. I’m just taking a little stroll on Bandcamp, browsing for new hot stuff, but not expecting to find anything special. A wicked piece of art catches my eye. Not knowing what to expect, I check out seventeen tracks. What? Oh, they’re all a minute or less; that makes more sense. Now I know this has to be grind, and I’ve been craving some greasy grind my whole damn life, that’s what it feels like. I hit the damn play button. Hair? Blown off the dome. Pants? Completely fucked up. Spine? Oh, you mean that little bone puddle GoGurt that just exploded out of my asshole into my aforementioned pants? Yeah, that’s a lost cause. All thanks to the German deathgrind anomaly Enemy‘S Outpatient brain amputation. I really should have taken the premium health insurance plan…

A debut LP that exceeds all expectations in terms of overall quality, Outpatient brain amputation achieves something that Grind has not managed since 2018: the activation of the patented Ken Hype machine. The anonymous, extremely hard-to-find German trio launches a comprehensive attack on institutionalized religion, late capitalism, internet culture and a number of other societal dysfunctions in just thirteen minutes, and yet each new murder leaves a memory. With the sheer intensity of grind legends Napalm deaththe indelible crazy hooks of Anaal Nathrakhthe crazy experimentation of Cripple Bastardsand the uncompromising technical power of Cancelled, Enemy hammering each rusted nail into the coffin with a ferocity that makes even those who eat nails for breakfast (without milk) feel threatened. This monster is simply unstoppable and its destructive nature demands my full, undivided attention.

Knowing that only three songs on this rabid beast exceed the minute mark, it’s a real challenge to pick the highlights and the low points, but the solution turns out to be simple. There are no low points. Outpatient brain amputation is a singular triumph of creative riffs, adventurous structures, and subversive ingenuity. Take my favorite track, “Planet of the Apes,” for example. “Planet of the Apes” is 56 seconds of technical, almost melodic deathgrind about Jeff Bezos being an asshole and doing ridiculous things with his vast fortune. It boasts a downright bluesy-tinged second half that ends with a silly but instantly memorable chorus. “3DPD” pokes fun at gross misogynistic men trolling the internet immediately after the preceding title track ends with a cute anime sample I don’t recognize. Earlier in the runtime, “Original No-Goods” bangs, jams, and grinds with the best of them, all to desecrate the ground with a viscous snot. Moments like these show how irreverent and cheeky Enemy really are. Musically, Outpatient brain amputation comes without cheap gimmicks or frivolous frills. Killer hits like “Es ist Muttertag”, “Arbeitstiere”, “Toxic Positivity”, “Christlich Demokratische Ulcera” and “Natur pur erleben” and many others outrank less sophisticated grindcore acts with their stunningly gnarly riffs, incredibly versatile vocals and a huge selection of percussive patterns.

Find points for improvement or criticism with Outpatient brain amputation is a Herculean task for this reviewer. The record’s tiny running time and rapid pace are partly to blame, but neither is a bad thing. In fact, they are another way Outpatient brain amputation seals the deal. By structuring the recording in such a dangerous way, Enemy Guarantee that I will be coming back to turn it up again. Some records of this kind don’t offer much to reward repeated turns, but this one peels away layer after layer. In all of those deceptively detailed layers, Outpatient brain amputation moves with an inhuman athleticism and flexibility that allows the band to perform feats of songwriting acrobatics worthy of Olympic awards. And yet I still want more. What should absolutely be enough content to satisfy even the most insatiable grind cravings doesn’t quite cut it for me.

I never expected to come across this record. It wasn’t even a promo album with the proper sources. Still, I wasn’t going to wait several months to officially announce it. Outpatient brain amputation is an unmitigated triumph of entertaining, brutal, cantankerous deathgrind. This review is just another reason for you to check it out. Forget that. It’s an order!

Reviews: Excellent!
DR: 7 | Verified format: 320kbps mp3
label: Self-release
website: feind.bandcamp.com
Worldwide publications: 5 August 2024

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