When I first heard rumors of Texas’s Creeping Death a few years ago, I stupidly assumed they were just a Metallica tribute band and disregarded them. Then as I heard more and more, and they got signed to a ‘big’ label, I assumed they were simply yet another Bolt Thrower worship band, as is the trend nowadays.

But now finally, truly digging into an album of theirs, I can finally determine what they are – a Massacre worship band. Maybe even up there with the current Massacre iteration or Inhuman Condition.

Yeah, there are some other clear old-school death metal influences at play here like Leprosy and Spiritual Healing era Death, Obituary, and, of course, the occasional Bolt Thrower hue ( “Vitrified Earth”, in particular). And some might argue there is a bit of hardcore meets death metal vibe going on (Corpsegrinder springs to mind, and the namesake actually shows up on “Intestinal Wrap”). But it all comes together to make 36 minutes of incredibly, simple, enjoyable death metal that I keep coming back to.

No Synths, no orchestral bombast, no interludes, no samples. Just big, beefy, groovy riffs, upon riffs, upon riffs, rife with recognizable From Beyond era Massacre influences. An influence helped by Reese Alavi’s throaty growl, the punchy, effective Adam Dutkiewicz ( yes, he of Killswitch Engage) production, and the drumming of Lincoln Mullins who imbues Bill Andrews’, effective simple percussive assault.

From the stomping opening title track through the massive breakdown that ends “Intestinal Wrap”, the rumbling “The Parthian Shot”, the massive lope of “Cursed”, and more blasting “Remnants of the Old Gods” (listen to the little gallop about 2 minutes in and tell me that isn’t classic Massacre) and hefty sway of “Looming” to more urgent closer “The Common Breed”, the whole album just scratches that death metal itch. Especially that old school mid paced, lumbering groove needing itch

Creeping Death isn’t changing death metal, but like Frozen Soul and Glacial Domination earlier this year, they have a murderously perfect vision of what pure old-school death metal sounded like decades ago, should sound like today, and what it will sound like moving forward.

[Visit the band's website]

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