When I first got this EP for review, I wasn’t overly excited; rather uninspiring band name, silly EP title, from a label known for brutal death metal. Then I discover that the vocalist and founder of Mordbrand is non other than Per Boder. Yes, the same Per Boder who formed the short lived God Macabre. And now I’m interested…
Joined by two members of obscure acts Horned and The Law, Mordbrand isn’t quite God Macabre or Macabre End part two, but it is 6 songs of awesome old school Swedish death metal with a focus on punky “dis” styled, d-beat galloping. There isn’t the doom element of The Winterlong, but there’s the mid range, but not overly done tone, and a slight Autopsy tinge that’s similar and the overall feel is in the general area at times.
At 27 minutes, Necropsychotic is a nice length EP but still rushes by in energetic fashion. Mostly due to the fact that the songs are mostly higher octane numbers that gallop with a catchy but feral glee. None of them really stand out, but the groundwork is laid for a future release that compares favorably to the recent crop of Swedish death metal, notably the Revolting and Ribspreader releases.
Opener “Eaters of the Void” is a simple, raucous old school romp that actually reminded me of Master, but with more death metal vocals. “Graveyard Revisited” is a pure Nihilist trot, complete with sprawling mid section and wild eyed solo. “Skarseld (Return to the Unholy)” starts with an Autopsy styled ooze before settling into a familiar trot. And that would be the EP’s only real downfall; the often repetitive d-beat drum pattern that rarely deviates. “The Fall of the Flesh” delivers one of the rare breaks from the mold with a slower, more controlled gait, but its back to business with “Deathbound”. “Deliverance” closes the EP a little awkwardly with the second slower track, again imbuing Autopsy‘s sickly crawl, but on the whole this is a tasty little EP that adds to 2010s plethora of the quality Swedish death metal revival releases.
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If Per was not singing this band would barely show up on the radar. They’re ok and all that, but nothing they’re doing stands out at all.
on Aug 18th, 2011 at 11:33I’m glad so many old and new artists are keeping this style going, but I sure wish they didn’t all emulate the exact same bands. Where are the Gorement, Desultory, and Afflicted clones? I have yet to hear any retro bands focus on the moodier and quirkier side of early Swedish death.
on Aug 18th, 2011 at 14:13Morbus Chron is an Afflicted clone IMO
on Aug 18th, 2011 at 14:30Really? Sorry, I’m not hearing it. They sound more like Autopsy to me. Afflicted was much more technical and psychedelic.
on Aug 18th, 2011 at 15:09