Remember in Rocky IV when Ivan Drago beat the beloved Apollo Creed to literal death? Do you remember the brutality of the beatdown and the shock and awe of witnessing what had just occurred? Well friends, I do. I remember it well, and the feeling I get from listening to Moscow, Russia’s Critical Extravasation is the same feeling I got back then; except this time I, the listener, am Apollo Creed…minus the shocking beatdown and dying thing.

Seriously though, this three-piece (four, if you count the session drummer) have quite an impressive scorcher of a debut with their Morbid Existence EP. The band has a late ’80’s/early ’90’s technical death metal sound that is blissfully influenced and steeped in the trade of Death, Sadus, Morgoth, Pestilence, and Atheist. Sure, nothing new, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t some of the most fresh and genuinely alive sounding material that I’ve heard in awhile. The song’s arrangements, playing, and overall sound hit just right and the fact that these guys are so young (17-22 years old) testifies to the unbridled true talent possessed by the band.

Originally released as a four song demo earlier this year, Redefining Darkness Records has issued Morbid Existence in a limited edition casette run; though it appears that the label chose to cut the song “Mental Prison” from the tracklisting, making it a thrree track affair; one of which is a stellar cover of Morgoth‘s Body Count. I’m not really sure why Redefining Darkness Records  would choose to omit the song, as the original four track, 19 minute run time, was a perfect EP that left you craving more. The three track version leaves you with a bit of a jipped feeling, leaving you like you deserved more. No big loss, as both versions can be found and streamed online.

No need to really break down the original material found on Morbid Existence, if you’re familiar with the any or all of the aforementioned bands of influence, then you are basically familiar with Critical Extravasation and their brand of creativity, though I will personally declare “Dismembered” to be my favorite track. Like I stated earlier, Morbid Existence is a scorcher of a release. From start to finish, this thing abounds with fantastically tight rhythms, driving drums, audible and proficient basswork, shredding solos, tempos that run the gamut, hooks and change-ups galore, socio-political lyrics, and a heaviness that would have been considered pure brutality back in 1991. Whether you bleed for the old-school progressive ways, or you just love genuine and fresh metal, Critical Extravasation and Morbid Existence is a winner you can’t go wrong with…honestly, I extremely look forward to seeing what a full-length from the band will entail.

[Visit the band's website]

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