Ok, ok, Dark Descent Records…stop it, really.  Mr. Matt Calvert, truly over the last 2 years, especially, is making other labels squirm in their chairs.  While obviously having a penchant for the awesome Finnish scene, he signs bands from a variety of extreme genres and goddammit he gets it right every effin time!!!  With the signing of Undergang and Wombbath (my review forthcoming), these are not only 2 of the best releases this year, but also 2 of my top bands on his roster.

Undergang play a different style of death metal, than their other brethren in bands like Corpus Mortale or Ferocity.  Rather than going for the crunchy, blasting death metal here is my descriptive analysis.  Autopsy goes on a date and sees a real young looking Obituary, in their early prime.  They decide to destroy the city together and have some fun and under the crimson sky they give birth to Rottrevore.

Undergang did a mini US tour last year, that I’m still kicking myself in the pants for not going, since they played a mere 30 minutes from me.  Døden læger alle sår is Undergang’s 3rd and finest, close to an hour, 50 minutes.  Holy ‘poop on a stick’.  “Jomfrublodbad”, at over 7 minutes never gets old.  Massive time changes, and how about the monstrously heavy, dense guitar tone over the brutal blasts??  Man at the 3:03 part, the slow isolated guitar part comes in and you know you’re saying to yourself-”here comes the holy shit part”.  Then boom into that awesome guitar part, over the blast beat.  So heavy, catchy and the guttural, lower than whale shit styled vocals will have you cleaning your pants by song’s end.

Really Rottrevore better get a new record out one of these years, ‘cause Undergang is the Danish version of Rottrevore in many ways.  Thick, heavy monstrous bass, even a little Mortician influenced, at times, brutally heavy dense guitar riffs and the vocals are simply godly.  A big plus for the natural sounding drums too!!  “Det gør kun ondt til du dør” ends the album in monstrous fashion.  Heavy thick parts, even some Winter/Autopsy doom and at over 7 minutes this song creates heads falling off due to the constant head banging.

Døden læger alle sår, was recorded in California, prior to their 2014 US tour and still retains all the incredible elements of their 2 prior releases.  However Undergang upped the game with this album.  Creating even more memorable tunes, increasing their brutality and musicianship and this is a monster of a release.  The production is well done and retains an early 90’s death metal feel. The production is not too loud and the album cover is gross and cool at the same time.  My order, from the label, will be in soon, but I am reviewing a download promo, so I cannot comment on the cd layout.  Undergang are establishing themselves as one of the best the underground death metal scene has to offer.

Døden læger alle sår is a must have and easily a top 5 pick for me this year, and maybe even #1, as of now.  Outstanding brutality.  If it’s not in your collection by the end of next week then Asking Alexandria is your favorite band and you have no life.

[Visit the band's website]

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