It appears Eastern Europe is experiencing a resurgence in bands playing old school Swedish death metal. Led by the Czech Republic’s Morbider (who’s 2009 CD When Darkness Returns, I highly recommend, especially if you enjoyed Entrails‘ effort last year) and the debut from Lavadome Records, Brutally Deceased’s Dead Lover’s Guide.
Swedish death metal aficionados will instantly recognize the band’s moniker as a track from Grave‘s 1992 album, You’ll Never See and that in itself will give you a blatant point of reference for the nine song, 33-minute album: Grave. Notably early Into the Grave and You’ll Never See Grave with a hint of Nihilist; raw, with a super down tuned sunlight buzz, an emphasis on more simple blasting riffs and grooves and some very deep, gruff vocals.
The Davos studios production is spot on in capturing the sound of yore. It’s not overly done or forced, but a primal and authentic analog sound that’s incredibly nostalgic. The same goes for the songwriting. The quartet obviously knows the reference material inside and out plying their trade with a simple energy and effective sense of balance between groove and cavernous blasting. And while I’ll readily admit that none of the tracks simply blew me away like Entrails or Morbider, there’s a consistent satisfaction from start to finish.
However, I did enjoy some of the album’s slightly longer more varied tracks like “Blissful Desecration”, “…And Here I Die Forsaken” (yet another Grave nod?), “The Demise of the Human Swine”, as opposed to the (still enjoyable) pure, shorter, pummeling Into the Grave rumbles of “Lustful Sodomy in the House of God”, “Dead Lovers’ Guide”, “A Life Once Aborted” and “All That Rots and Withers”.
As if to cement the band’s influences, the album ends with a cover of one of the most instantly recognizable tracks of the genre, but it’s not a Grave track. Instead, it’s Dismember’s “Override of the Overture” and for fans of the genre, it’s pretty boner inducing even if the original track is as perfect as a track can be. Brutally Deceased’s more down-tuned and urgent take on the song does it justice and make Brutally Deceased an instant big timer player in the genre’s sudden resurgence.
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Nice review, its a qulity album. I definitely enjoy the Grave and Dismember sound and am one of those completely responsible for the resurgence, since I buy all these cd’s, tapes and demos. I’d love to buy some vinyls as well but lack a player. As a total deathhead I’m loving the variety going around, in the classics, hidden gems, mid-era shit, and my prefered tech-death and NWOSDM bands.
on Feb 17th, 2011 at 23:23Just ordered their disc, amazing sound and yes Override of the Overture cover is simply mindblowing.
on Feb 25th, 2011 at 01:04