Memento mori

The pulverizing debut full-length by this Japanese Death/Doom Metal juggernaut that was previously only available on digital and as a limited, self-released digipak for the Japanese market. Burden of Despair was formed by guitarist 7405926 (ex-Cryptic Revelation, Dyingrace) in Osaka, back in 2004. The band released two demos over the next couple of years, but remained dormant for a long time, until it re-surfaced with a brand new lineup in 2021 and released the "Desecration" EP in early 2022. Fast forward to early 2025, and the band released their opera prima, "Confutatis", an album that showcases a sonic entity that writhes like a gargantuan leviathan with a riff-driven amalgamation of massive Death/Doom Metal and mid-paced brutality, garnished with a superb sense of grooviness and a Hardcore edge that borrow heavily from both old school Death Metal and Upstate NYHC. Totally recommended to fans of Mutagenic Host, Tzompantli, Kruelty, Fuming Mouth, Gatecreeper, Terminal Nation, Mortiferum, Vastum... This worldwide press of "Confutatis" is presented on a noble jewel case that will include the "Rehearsal" demo (2004) as bonus.

A CD that compiles all the material that this U.S. band has released so far: "Corpus Inhumation" demo (2024), "Cadaver Mutilation" demo (2024), "Stilled Life" single (2024) and "Corporeal Separation" demo (2025). Cadaverous Odour was brought forth by multi-instrumentalist Sasha Gallant in the summer of 2023 with the basic idea being to mix up some of the sounds he loves most in Death Metal: the murkiness of bands like Infester and early Incantation, the speed of bands like Incubus and Morbid Angel, the dark grindiness of Finnish bands like Agonized and Xysma, the weird leads from Necrophiliac, and the hypnotic mixture of Doom and Grind from Disembowelment. Although intended to be a side project, as Sasha's main bands are Depraver and Dimensionless, Cadaverous Odour has been gaining traction as time passed by and its smell is way too rank to be left to waste. All hail festering and nauseating Death Metal!
 

The highly anticipated 2nd full-length by this U.S. band. Thaumaturgy was spawned in the American Midwest by an enigmatic musician that goes under the alias KT, driven by the urge to play a vicious blend of dark, doom-laden, chasmic and cavernous Death Metal, taking influence from a wide range of outsider music. Thaumaturgy attempt to push the boundaries beyond the genre's forerunners in order to invoke contemplation upon the super-mundane realms that their name implies. Previously an outright Death/Doom Metal act with a darkened edge, the band has morphed into an entity whose musical offering is crammed with furious, ripping riffs, contrasted by crushing, echoing doom passages, as well as a surprising element of dark melody, evoking comparisons to the more diabolical early bands from Sweden, such as Necrophobic and Grotesque, although combining that approach with the tenebrosity and the murkiness of Incantation and Krypts, the violent and chaotic assault of Morbid Angel, the aggressiveness of Dutch bands like Sinister and Pestilence, the modern approach of acts like Grave Miasma and Cruciamentum, and even the sheer lightlessness of bands such as Demoncy and Adversarial. Active since 2021, Thaumaturgy released its debut EP, "Charnel Gnosis", that same year. Two years later came the full-length "Tenebrous Oblations". Now a power-trio after the addition of TG and DS to their ranks, Thaumaturgy present their second album, "Pestilential Hymns", and the fullest, foulest display of their still-growing strength. A descent into both despair and madness, "Pestilential Hymns" instills a warped, charcoal-coated headspace that's strangely addicting. Riffs race and rearrange with palpitating tension, seemingly going both faster and slower simultaneously; tight but never-robotic drums keep up in kind, speaking in slithering counterpoint to that sooty riffing; touches of haunting synth occasionally linger just at the threshold of perception, poignantly highlighting the mangled melody that sometimes surfaces from this rush of crush; and then the vocals spit pain and confusion in a manner most Martin Van Drunen-esque, effectively underlining the palpably human aspect to this otherwise-alien assault. To qualify Thaumaturgy as "blackened" would not be unfair, but "Pestilential Hymns" as a (w)hole wholly feels like a Death Metal record, just one on the fringes of unorthodoxy and angularity, unbound but never belabored. Still, despite this forward-thinking approach, Thaumaturgy retain a sense of the ancient, of elder days in the underground when diabolism truly began to bloom in Death Metal. Capping this madcap experience is suitably ancient cover artwork by Daniel Hermosilla (Nox Fragor Art). This is music to mangle your mind!
 

A CD that compiles the two demos by this old and obscure Finnish band, as well as the three previously unreleased songs featured on the "Endless Tears of the Distant Sea" compilation tape (Old Skull Productions, 2017). Cerebrum was spawned in Turku back in 1992 and is yet another largely unsung name from the early/mid 90's Finnish Death Metal scene, perhaps for having been a bit late to the game, with their solid debut demo, "Demo #1" (1993), being released in a time when many of their peers were already splitting up or moving on musically. Old school Death Metal was the name of the game, as the band proudly wore the influence of bands such as Death, Morbid Angel, Entombed, Carcass, Obituary and Xysma on their sleeve. The band took a more melancholic, melodic and ambitiously progressive direction on their second demo, "Grief" (1994), which displayed a band bursting with skill and vision, willing to expand their sonic range in a way not unlike what other bands such as Carbonized, Phlebotomized, Edge of Sanity, Opeth, Amorphis and Sentenced were doing at the time. However, lineup changes ensued and the band faded into obscurity shortly after. All the songs featured on this compilation of Cerebrum's body of work, titled Vestiges of an Evoked Past (1993-1994), were subtly remastered by Tuomas Virtanen (the band's current keyboardist) for an even more pleasurable listening experience, and the cover art was provided by the talented Finnish artist Toni Hietomaa. Additionally, the booklet contains an in-depth feature/interview by Olivier 'Zoltar' Badin.
 

The crushing debut full-length by this Australian band. No more than a calendar year in the making, Reekmind was conjured up by Nick and Dane after deciding that there wasn't enough bands (especially locally) that showcase music similar to what they were going for. So, after a few short months of conjuring up some tracks, the pair created the songs that'd be featured on their debut full-length. After bringing on Lem on bass and employing Brayden (Aglo, Ghostsmoker) to undertake drumming duties, Mired in the Reek of Grief was recorded in late 2024, mixed by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios (Esoteric, Cruciamentum, Grave Miasma...), mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studios (Cerebral Rot, Mortiferum, Excarnated Entity...) and picked up by Night Terror Records for release in March 2025 on LP and tape. Reekmind display an unorthodox take on Death/Doom Metal with an underlying sludge element that shifts and cracks open the earth beneath to exhibit a melding of influences, such as Necros Christos, Crowbar, Mortiferum, Amenra, Adramelech and Disembowelment, exposing the listener to slow, lumbering passages of woven misery via crushing, sludge-infused riffs that march with ferocity and malice, as well as vocals that cut through the mix with grief-ridden lyrics that tell a tale of mental anguish and struggle. Taking many different angles to perform an extreme debut album that provides the listener with a variety of extreme components, Reekmind is essential listening to further fall down the spiralling hole of sorrow.
 

The much anticipated 3rd full-length by these long-running Chilean fiends. Cancerbero was formed by vocalist/bassist Peter in the city of Concepción in 1987. The band split in 1994 due to musical differences after releasing two demos ("Guardian of Hell" in 1988 and "Perpetual Agony" in 1991). Both demos received worldwide praise from underground bangers and fanzines, and the band got to play with some the best Death Metal bands in Chile, such as Atomic Aggressor, Death Yell and Torturer. The band was reformed in 2001 and regurgitated a number of minor releases to add up to the already cult band's legacy and status. In 2010 a new, unholy era began for the band, introducing a renovated lineup and a rawer, darker and more morbid approach to the band's totally old school based Death Metal, manifested in all its impious glory in the band's debut 2012 album, "At the Portal of Evoked Blasphemies", as well as the 2013 "Malevolence" EP. Over the next years, the band made extensive tours across Chile, spreading their ancient brand of malevolent and loathsome Metal of Death all around, and satisfying the thirst for evil music of old and new fans alike. In 2018, Peter was forced to recruit flesh blood after the departure of all other band members. With this fresh and dedicated lineup, the band conceived a split EP w/ Morbosatan, the sophomore 2019 album, "Reconquering the Throne of Death" -an aptly titled masterpice of olden, thrashy Metal of Death that took the underground scene by the storm- and a split EP w/ Altar of Blood. Now, after yet another deep lineup change, the band is ready to pounce on the underground scene with a new onslaught of ungodly psalms in the name of Death fuckin' Metal. "Sempiternal Decay" is an album that most definitely is yet another lesson in devilish and archaic Death Metal the way it was meant to be in the 80's, not just musically, but also in essence, spirit and attitude. Extremely recommended to fans of Morbid Angel, Possessed, Mortem, Sadistic Intent, Asphyx, Celtic Frost, Mantas/Death, Messiah, Pentacle...
 

The morbid 3rd full-length by this U.S. band. Hailing from Los Angeles, Insineratehymn have managed to position themselves in the taste of underground extreme Metal fans with their powerful Death Metal clearly influenced by classic bands, giving a masterclass in 90's Death Metal, from the spiraling vortexes of early Tampa to the sewage to come from New York, through to eerie emanations from Europe and the dissonance at the dawn of the new millennium. Naturally, the band bend those classic tropes in a variety of ways, all of which bespeak their own identity. Scuzzy, slicing, clanging, angular, brutal beatdown, ignorant stomp, or just straightforward killshot: no weapon is left aside. Simply, Insineratehymn are Death Metal for Death Metal maniacs, by Death Metal maniacs who understand and appreciate the rich-yet-codified history of the genre. Handy references to be made include Sadistic Intent, Monstrosity, Suffocation, Grave, Edge of Sanity, Demigod, Sentenced and, of course, Deicide, who provided their namesake. And while it seemed -at the time, at least- that they had hit a fever pitch of death metalled perfection on 2022's Disembodied full-length, along comes their third album to set the gold standard that much higher. Ominously titled Irreverence of the Divine, Insineratehymn's third full-length goes all in on the evil that should be at the forefront of true, classic Death Metal. Right after its mood-setting acoustic intro, Irreverence of the Divine sets forth an atmosphere of all-consuming, unmitigated diabolism and possession, put into sonic form as Death Metal of a most early 90's vintage. In many senses, Insineratehymn here expand the extremes of their sound; their attack is tighter and more calculated but never sterile, while the songwriting itself steps over the threshold into berserker territory with increasing regularity. Eerily melodic solos likewise crop up more often, really plowing that furlough too often forgotten by nowadays "OSDM" bands. All those aforementioned tools are used - savagely, stylishly- and with the album's eight central songs totaling 40 minutes, Irreverence of the Divine never feels too short nor too epic. Gracefully completed by unholy cover art courtesy of Edgar Roldan, Insineratehymn once again stake their claim as classic Death Metal masters with Irreverence of the Divine!
 

The ominous 2nd full-length by this Argentinian band. The entity known as Ataudes was called forth in Buenos Aires back in 2019, out of a rabid desire to play blackened Death Metal pervaded by destructive riffs, blast beats and gut-wrenching vocals, exhibiting a dazzling taste for haunting sections which create an eerie atmosphere that spreads through their music like a malevolent blend of all things morbid. From the high-speed rampages to the creepier slower parts, Ataudes have a brilliantly grim and defiling sound that perpetuates the odor of vintage Death Metal and hits all the right spots for old school extreme Metal diehards to feast upon. Totally recommended to fiends into Morbid Angel, Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice, Immolation, Dead Congregation, Krypts, Incantation...
 

The highly anticipated 3rd full-length by this Finnish band. Morbific is a rotten-to-the-core Death Metal trio deformed in the filthy and profaned boneyard of Kitee in early 2020, featuring Olli (guitar), Jusa (vocals / bass) and Onni (drums). The band's Pestilent Hordes demo was unleashed in the summer of 2020, and it rapidly gained them some following amongst the finest gourmets of the variety of festering, moldering and disgusting Death Metal that's malignantly influenced by Autopsy, Rottrevore, Deteriorot, Mortician, Grave, Maimed, Undergang, Impetigo and ancient Finnish masters of death and decay, such as Funebre and Disgrace. Shortly after, in the spring of 2021, the debut full-length Ominous Seep of Putridity saw the odious light of day to unanimous praise by both the fans and the media. Just a year later, and now aligned with Memento Mori, Morbific released their second full-length, Squirm Beyond the Mortal Realm. Aptly titled, the album quickly became a cult favorite of utterly uncomfortable, slimy Death Metal. Now, Morbific are prepared to eclipse such a sewer-dwelling "highwater" mark with Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh. Whereas its not-inconsiderable predecessor confronted the listener with a blown-out, almost demo-level feel, the Finns' third full-length proves that they can move and mesmerize and maim no matter what the soundfield is. And on Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh, it's a raw-yet-robust show of strength, "classic" Death Metal production in a most late 80's fashion; just witness that gurgling, fuzz-tinged bass and feel its radioactive waves envelope you. But production is one thing and songwriting is another, and with the latter, Morbific are truly hitting their stride here. Lumbering and stomping, with well-timed bouts of disgusting gallop or even ragged blasts, their songwriting twists and indeed squirms with off-kilter insanity; some would call it chaos, if not for the exceptionally tight musicianship on display here, with the sum result being an uncomfortableness that bubbles up from a deeper gutter. Thankfully, Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh conveys its dark, disgusting and unconventional aura across every element -said chops simply heighten these sensations- and is, thus far, Morbific's best melding of form and content. Cro-Magnon as ever but somehow enlightened in the creepiest sense possible, Morbific continue their reputation as Finland's filthiest and Death Metal's untrendiest weirdoes. Vividly captured by Chase Slaker's cover artwork, Bloom of the Abnormal Flesh is the foulest stench only for the brave!

The impressive debut full-length by this U.K. band. Mutagenic Host are a five-piece band hailing from London, as part of the New Wave of British Death Metal (Coffin Mulch, Celestial Sanctuary, Slimelord, Vacuous, Mortuary Spawn...). The band comprises members from various parts of the U.K. and the States. With a diverse background spanning the Hardcore, Black Metal and Death Metal scenes, Mutagenic Host blends Hardcore sensibilities and groove with the heavy, well-crafted sound reminiscent of 90´s Floridian Death Metal. Mutagenic Host dives into a technological apocalypse, examining a world overshadowed by hypocritical, insidious and murderous global powers. The band is deeply disillusioned with the traditional themes of Death Metal and Hardcore, feeling that these subjects no longer capture the urgency of the present. Instead, Mutagenic Host tackles the modern-day specters of complacency, apathy and the looming threat of AI. Their work is an allegory for the systematic industrialization of humanity´s eradication, whether by human hands or by the machines we create to snuff out life. In this narrative, the instruments of the state use AI to monitor, control and suppress the population, sounding a warning of impending doom through a fresh, intense lens in the Death Metal genre. "The Genotoxic Demo", unleashed in early 2023, featured four tracks that plunged listeners into a cerebral mulch while simultaneously slashing through them with a ruthlessness found in the streets. Following a year of relentless live performances alongside bands such as Incantation, Fulci, Fuming Mouth, Undeath, Celestial Sanctuary, Kruelty, Portrayal of Guilt and Doldrey, Mutagenic Host are now ready to unleash their debut full-length. Aptly titled, "The Diseased Machine" is a dark and thought-provoking journey into that post-plague world, which frankly doesn´t feel so far away from present times. As a debut album, it consolidates Mutagenic Host´s myriad strengths -stomping and slamming grooves, world-eating heaviness, patient deployment of double-bass movement- and then intensifies them to an enviable degree. To be sure, the band are the proverbial well-oiled machine (but not diseased!) across the album´s ten oft-twisting tracks, the clean-yet-crushing production amplifying their strident execution. And with their fluid shifting between tank-rolling downtempo and galloping bouts of speed, we can confidently declare "The Diseased Machine" as the epitome of "chug and slug" Death Metal. Mutagenic Host have stormed the gates to further solidify their ferocious presence in the Death Metal scene!

The grisly 3rd full-length by this Finnish band. Formed in Turku in 2007, Concrete Icon unleashed their debut EP, "Where the Horns Reign", in 2012, quicky followed by their debut full-length, "Perennial Anguish", the year after. After going through numerous lineup changes and taking a short break, the band returned stronger and more determined than ever in 2019, with the release of their widely acclaimed sophomore full-length, "Rancid Harmony", which definitely turned them into a band to keep track of and a force to be reckoned with by diehard deathsters in the underground scene all over the world. Fast forward to late 2021, the band released an EP on tape format, titled "Rebirth", that featured two brand new songs, as some sort of appetizer before diving into the writing process of their third full-length. A few months later, a compilation named "Reign of Anguish MMXXII", featuring remixed versions of both their debut EP and their debut full-length, was released. Not long after, another major change occurred, as half of the band quit in the middle of rehearsals for the third full-length. Replacements were promptly found and the band returned to live action in 2023, finally entering the studio to record their long overdue third full-length later on. Concrete Icon blend the viciousness of classic U.S. Death Metal with the melancholic gloom of their European counterparts, combining leads drenched in despondency and suffering with a more angular and punishing riff barrage, resulting in an atrocious entity that´s as quintessential as old school Death Metal can get, while exuding a personality that´s their very own. For those in need of references, think a neck-breaking mix of Morbid Angel, Paradise Lost, Deicide, Amorphis, Monstrosity, Sentenced, Immolation...

The highly anticipated 2nd full-length by this Romanian band. Hailing from Transylvania, Putred was formed by Uriel on guitars (Morbicus, Vorus, Reveler) and Filip on vocals / bass (Necrotum, Vorus, Demoted) back in June 2020. Dante (Slaughter Ceremony, ex-In Obscurity Revealed, ex-Infested) joined the band behind the drumkit right after writing the first two songs, titled "Necroza" and "Devorat de Viermi." These tracks were self-released as a promo/demo tape in July 2020. In late 2021, Corina (ex-Deimos, Vorus, Reveler) joined the band as a bass player and Filip stuck to vocals only. In October 2022, Doru (ex-Necrovile, Vorus, Malpraxis) replaced Dante on drums, and the band immediately started playing live all over Romania. After myriad splits and more demos, Putred released their debut album, "Repulsie Post-Mortem", in early 2023. If that simple-yet-sublime debut full-length firmed up their filthy foundation, then Putred´s second album surely builds that foundation ever higher -and deeper- with miles of slime! Titled "Megalit al Putrefacției", Putred perfect pounding, ponderously mid-paced Death Metal of a most eldritch nature. Rancid and foul-smelling as ever, the Romanians´ tank continues to crush forward at a patient gait, exhibiting brutality and all-out heaviness not through sheer speed or dazzling displays of technique, but rather through thoughtful songwriting, slamming/slithering riffing and none-slimier atmosphere. The leads are especially eerie, as are the multi-tracked high/low vocals, with Corina´s wandering bass-work instilling a truly unsettling feeling. Sonic references across "Megalit al Putrefacției" are many -Mortician at half-speed, Cianide at their world-eating best, early Necrophagia´s weird textures, Apparition/Sorrow with a shot of energy, and of course the unholy trifecta of Bolt Thrower, Asphyx and Grave- but Putred manage to integrate their own personality into proceedings, particularly their lyrics, all written and growled in their native tongue, telling short horror-drenched stories about death, horror, the occult and the afterlife. The closing cover of Autopsy´s "Critical Madness" simply underlines that spiritual center. Completed by absolutely perfect cover artwork courtesy of Jan Pysander Whitney, Putred´s "Megalit al Putrefacției" is prime-grade Death Metal for those who want it slower, deeper and harder.

The much-anticipated 2nd full-length by this Hungarian band. Formed in 2018 by Zoli (guitars) and Balázs (drums), initially under the monicker Mothrot, it wasn´t after Knot (guitars) and Ádám (bass/vocals) joined the band that they morphed into Mephitic Grave and the Lovecraftian universe of cosmic horror based Death Metal welcomed a new entity. Their shared adoration of the classic Finndeath scene and the mighty ancient U.S. bands settled their musical approach: unrefined, sickening and miasmatic Death Metal that oozes viscous matter and is drenched in derangement. Their debut album, "Into the Atrium of Inhuman Morbidity", put the band on the map of current, underground Death Metal in 2021. Since then, they´ve been working on new aural madness to dive deeper into the harrowing tones from beyond, which is exactly what they accomplished with "Dreadful Seizures", the band´s sophomore full-length effort. Fans of bands such as Abhorrence, Autopsy, Funebre, Grave, Obituary, Purtenance, Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel, rejoice: "Dreadful Seizures", graced with the talent of cover artist Mónus Viktor, is here to satisfy your craving for vintage Metal of Death!
 

The pummeling 3rd full-length by this Romanian band. The rancid entity known as Necrotum was initiated by mainman Filip Garlonta (Putred, Demoted, Vorus) in Brasov, back in 2019. Despite the fact that the band has only been around for four years, Necrotum have already produced an impressive output, including two albums and a number of shorter releases, getting tighter, danker, heavier and more macabre over time, drawing inspiration from the likes of early Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Wombbath, Broken Hope and Grave among others, with the sole intention of perpetuating ghastly, downtuned, no-frills Death fuckin´ Metal. While it would be expected (and celebrated) if Necrotum stuck to those rancid guns, on their forthcoming third album, "Defleshed Exhumation", do they become slicker and yet more twisted, tighter but also wilder, and ​perhaps more "evolved"... very relatively speaking! Because make no mistake, ​Necrotum are ​staunchly (and sickly!) Death Metal of a most 90´s vintage, but whereas their preceding full-lengths could be slotted within the pantheon of early 90´s Death Metal, "​Defleshed Exhumation" takes a concerted path ​toward mid or even late 90´s Death Metal. Think the likes of Monstrosity, Broken Hope, Mortal Decay, Deeds of Flesh and pre-breakup Suffocation: undeniably fierce and punishing, but technical in ​a creepy and oft-slimy way. Not for nothing is the cover art created by Slimeweaver! Of especial note is the production on "Defleshed Exhumation": this is about as slick and clean as you can get whilst retaining the core darkness and horror ​of classic ​Death Metal. If anything, those superlatively sharp edges only make that darkness and horror hit harder. Stomp in the slime and twist down into its depths with Necrotum!

The highly anticipated 2nd full-length by this Polish band. Conceived in Warsaw back in 2010, Martyrdoom went through some lineup changes until they established a solid formation in 2014, consisting of Sociak (vocals), Marol (guitar), Młynar (guitar / vocals), Artur (bass) and Wasyl (drums). With this lineup, in 2017 they released their debut album, "Grievous Psychosis", through yours truly´s label. Blending complex, blastbeat-driven, darkened Death Metal with slow doom passages, the band drew their main influences from the likes of Obituary, Immolation, Rippikoulu, Autopsy, Demilich, Triptykon, Cannibal Corpse, Incantation, Hooded Menace, Grave, Disma and Dead Congregation, but they spewed all those influences out with renewed vigor. As far as non-musical inspirations go, their lyrics mostly revolved around old-school horror/gore movies, personal struggles and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Bloodthirsty and dripping with menace, Martyrdoom are still armed with a thorough knowledge of ancient Death Metal and they return to create something vile and unearthly with "As Torment Prevails". Though six years might´ve passed between full-lengths, these Poles pick up exactly where they left off: eschewing all trends, trudging defiantly and blasting their noxious blend of Death Metal and doomy vibes. If anything, "As Torment Prevails" dives deeper into the ancient past, sounding like a lost relic from 1992, including the striking cover art courtesy of Ryszard Wojtyński. And while Doom no doubt forms a foundation for their sound, never do Martyrdoom sound sluggish here: their guitar sound alone is gutted, and the Doom is definitely all in the feeling, for there´s plenty of off-the-charts energy here no matter what the tempo is. Those especially enamored with the 90´s works of Asphyx and Benediction will find tons to love in "As Torment Prevails", as well as the early (and equally essential) records of Sinister and Hypocrisy. Concluding with a cover of Autopsy´s "In the Grip of Winter", Martyrdoom don´t so much as turn back the clock as crush it!
 

The long-awaited 2nd full-length by this Dutch band. Ecocide was formed in Haarlem by Sten Govers, Bas Gijzen and Rick Stikkelorum back in 2012, with Dennis Bikker joining in 2014. Their self-titled 2012 demo was basically Thrash Metal with a pinch of Death Metal thrown in for good measure, and lyrical themes based on H.P. Lovecraft, 80´s horror and sci-fi movies. Their 2013 debut album, titled "Eye of Wicked Sight", saw the band shift their initial Thrash Metal sound into old school Death Metal, taking the Floridian brand of Death, Obituary and Massacre, adding some Swedish inspiration in the vein of Entombed, Grave and Unleashed, pouring some Bolt Thrower heaviness, some Pestilence greatness, and throwing in an additional touch of Thrash Metal à la Slayer for a real homage to the golden days of yore, when Death Metal was memorable and riff-oriented to the hilt. The release of the album quickly attracted a bigger, international following, and the band started playing dozens of shows within and around The Netherlands. During these shows, they shared the stage with bands like Malevolent Creation, Sinister, Gorguts and the legendary Bolt Thrower. After two lineup changes, the band called it quits in 2015, returning briefly in 2017 to release a single titled "The Godhand", and then again in 2020 to release another single, titled "Sleeper". After releasing those two songs, the band remained dormant until 2023, when they announced their comeback and started working for the second album. Now, at long last is that comeback already ready, fittingly titled "Metamorphosis". Indeed, it´s been a full decade since their debut album, but Ecocide prove that album #2 could´ve followed swiftly after the first: the band stick to their guns and totally solidify their transformation into old school Death Metal par excellence. While thrash riffs still abound, they´re fully integrated into the whole, supporting an unbelievably era-authentic Tampa style that could´ve come out in 1991. Ecocide´s songwriting has also gotten stronger, shifting speeds with deftness and care, and placing a premium on earth-shuddering breakdowns. There´s always a linear flow to all that they do here on "Metamorphosis", even when the riffing gets busier and the rhythms kick into overdrive; for the latter, the kick drums in particular impart that timeless "tornado" effect that made many a Morrisound recording so classic. Similarly, the production across the album is clear, crunchy and classy, displaying technical finesse whilst keeping just the right amount of grit. And what to say of vocalist/guitarist Govers... Well, an exceptionally classic Death Metal throat, powerful in his enunciation and creeping you the fuck out! Completed by Costin Chioreanu´s horrifically abstract cover art, Ecocide make a grand return with "Metamorphosi