DOMINATION THROUGH IMPURITY (DTI) is a project by two gentlemen well-known in brutal death metal circles — drummer Jordan Varela (Lust of Decay, Lividity, ex-Debodified, ex-Carcinogenic) and Joe Payne (Lust of Decay, Nile), who handles vocals and guitars here.
This is precisely the case where talented individuals have ideas but lack the ability or opportunity to realize them within their main projects.
Essence of Brutality is extremely intricate brutal death metal with an emphasis on technical execution rather than sheer brutality. Virtuosic drum parts, mind-bending riffing, guttural growling, and a steely bass.
Both musicians operate at an exceptionally high professional level, with extreme precision and tight cohesion.
The drummer's work deserves special admiration — what he does with the drum kit is simply mind-boggling. However, there is a small caveat: I don't know whether it was done intentionally or not, but the drum sound strongly resembles a "drum machine," so heavily is everything saturated with triggers. Because of this, the album's overall sound feels somewhat synthetic and mechanical.
In any case, even at its modest 30-minute runtime, the disc relentlessly pulverizes your brain. The album is good, but it will only appeal to those who can't live without technically proficient brutal violence.