When one thinks of the phrase Cemetery Filth, what picture forms? For me, I think of that Linnea Quigley graveyard scene in “Return of the Living Dead.” If you’ve seen it, you know the one. For others, I’m sure it’s quite different. When it comes to music, you’re probably thinking of some grimy, slimy, disgusting death metal, right? The kind where it sounds like the vocals are being belched from some character from “The Descent” who enjoys spelunking and, you know, killing and eating people. In other words, the American Dream… Who says dreams are dead?

Well, Cemetery Filth doesn’t think so. At least not their dreams. This album has a lot more going for it than that in vogue cavernous death metal sound. Make no mistake about it, though. This is modern old school death metal (“oxymoron?” How dare you call me that!).

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. What makes this different from any other old school death metal album? When “Subduction,” the first offering kicks in, the production immediately stands out. Yes, it’s, for lack of a better term, filthy, but it’s also clear. The bass is audible, and the guitars are front and center. This is no “HM-2” death metal, either. The guitars don’t sound like a buzz saw, but more like, you know, guitars. My head nods through the first track, then I kind of lose my place until late in the proceedings because it all sounds similar.

Near the end of the album, I rediscover where I am momentarily. “From Euphonic Crypts” is the first (and last) reprieve one gets from the full-on death metal assault, which is why it caught my attention. Even then, it’s selection number 8 on a 9-track album, it’s only about a minute long, and it segues into the final track, “Dominion.” So far, dear reader (and listener), you have been treated to short blasts of old school death, but the final track is slightly over 9 minutes. However, we have no progressive take on the genre here. What we have is a constantly writhing, crawling, slimy slab of what you’ve come to expect. If listening critically, the song could be divided into a few different movements. With a couple minutes left, the guitar takes over a lead that matches the current riff very well, then fades out to the end of the album.

If you had a look at the artwork, read the band name, and decided to give it a listen, then you probably already knew how you would feel. There’s something to be said for that. If this kind of death metal is up your dark alley (decide for yourself if that’s a butthole joke), then you’ll enjoy what Cemetery Filth has on display. On the other hand, if you want something new, progressive, and mind-bending, look elsewhere.

Otherwise, if you’re looking to get filthy in the cemetery, you could do far worse than using Dominion as your soundtrack. My only advice is to bring some lube because dead ladies (or gentlemen if that’s what floats your penis) have dry, dusty bones, but that’s doesn’t mean you have to.

[Visit the band's website]

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