The Brazilian metal scene has always been a product of an extreme society producing extreme music, one has only to look at the likes of Krisiun as a case in point. Ophiolatry's development for anyone familiar with the underground scene has been one of steady progression release to release, culminating in "Transmutation". A reputation of non compromising no nonsense Death Metal has landed the Latin trio the tag of Brazil's next big thing.

Ophiolatry's approach to their music is much akin to that of a hunter stalking his pray, the sole aim of both is to deliver total an utter annihilation. While firmly ensconced in Death Metal camp there is an undercurrent of Grind running through everything that is good about "Transmutation" no more so than Ophiolatry's short, sharp, shock break-neck approach to song writing. With Jhorge "Dog" Duarte underpinning everything with drumming so brutal even Grind gods like Mitch Harris or Dave Grave would have to concede tipping a nod in appreciation.

If there is a flaw to "Transmutation" it is that the sixteen songs do lack variation, effectively making the album one long barrage of blasphemous savagery. Depending on your outlook however this of course maybe less of a weakness and more a selling point if your particular musical weakness is raw potent Death Metal of the primitive kind. A surfeit hit amongst the Deicide and Vital Remains fraternity, bringing together some of the most vile blasphemy this side of hell with the bands mesmeric speed is sure to turn a few heads, along with breaking a few necks I'd wager.

"Beneath The Remains" this is not, and is unlikely to propel Ophiolatry to the forefront of the Metal stratosphere but such is the pedigree of some many of the releases from Brazil that not only have they help shape much of extreme Metal in one way or another, but are yard sticks to which everything is compared to. In the pantheons of Metal Ophiolatry may be but a footnote but they are very capable of taking that foot and stompin' the living daylights of anything that moves. Raw and vital, this is what makes Brazilian Metal what it is!