It’s pretty crazy to think Dave Rotten’s Avulsed has been around for over 30+ years.  Phoenix Cryptobiosis is the band’s 8^th full-length album and the band shows no sign of slowing down.  Avulsed still plays a filthy style of death metal, that is quite a bit reminiscent of early Cannibal Corpse.

When I listen to this album I am transported back to Butchered at Birth.  This album has 11 songs in 44 minutes, opening with a close to 3 minute long instrumental – “Limbs Regeneration”.  You all know how I feel about instrumentals.  This starts with some atmospheric synths, then the metal kicks in.  It’s heavy, doomy and actually really good, but it’s maybe 2 minutes too long for my tastes.

“Lacerate to Dominate” is up next starting off slow, then picking up to a great early 90’s death metal pace as Dave’s vocals are as filthy as ever.  Sounding like Chris Barnes, in his early prime.  Midway into the song there’s some classic guitar soloing going on, taking me to early King Diamond like vibes.  This song has excellent mid-paced heaviness and thumping galloping old school beats.  Heavy stuff.  And the killer growl Dave lets out towards the end of the song is brilliant.

“Blood Monolith” starts things off a bit cheeky with Dave growling the title a few times.  It’s funny, actually.  GoG punishes the drums on this, the beginning blast is ruthless.  Alex Nihil Bass, Alejandro Lobo/ Víctor Guitars round things off with the rhythm section.  Punishing.  I like good heavy memorable guitar riffs and these guys provide that.  This song gets slower into a filthy doomy crawl that will level cityscapes across the world.  Excellent ethereal guitar harmonies in the middle of the song which traverse into guitar solos.  Great drum roll after that moment to signify the Holy Shit moment with a monster fast section and Dave letting loose again with another excellent growl.  That is something that is missed a lot these days in death metal.  Quality death metal growls, over certain musical structures, which work better than just singing.  Excellent!!!

“Guts of the Gore Gods” get the 2025 pick for the most “G” letters in a single song.  Fast and furious, and then the song settles down to a slower beat, and I enjoy Dave using his higher raspier vocals which are never irritating, like Barnes does.  They fit.  We even get a nifty little bass solo strum fest, listen close for it early on.  This song has some cool stop/start riffage, and over these moments Dave will let loose on a growl and the music over the growl is well crafted.  This happens a few times, allowing Dave’s throaty phlegmy growls to be heard in the speakers to further crush your ear drums.

The title track is yet another display of high quality old school filthy American death metal from Avulsed.  High velocity galloping old school death metal with squealing guitar solos and some excellent mid-paced heaviness and more guttural growls from Dave.  He truly is on fire with his vocals on this album.

Phoenix Cryptobiosis sports one helluva an album cover.  Avulsed knows about curb appeal and album art, for sure.  Some demonic hellion is in chains in a cemetery and looking to destroy the world if it gets free.  The production is organic allowing the heaviness of the guitars to have a warm and not plastic sound to them.  The drums have a killer mix, especially the snare.  It pops, but has a deep resonating, not tinny sound to them.  Dave is all over the place with his bellows, screeching and deep growls.  This is a damn fine death metal album!

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