Wombbath is  a Swedish death metal band who were kicking it around in the early 90’s but broke up in 1995.  Their lone album, 1993s Internal Caustic Torments was a classic for me and grossly overlooked back in the day.  Had no idea it was remastered a mere 2 years ago and I snagged it recently from Dark Descent Records.  The remastering, with the 7” and demo is pretty killer.  Well fast forward over 2 decades later and Dark Descent snags the reformed band, from the top of the fee agency heap.  I had my reservations about the reformation, as Håkan Stuvemark was the only original member returning (though joined by a few Swedish scene veterans). That is until I heard it, as Wombbath has  unleashed an ass kicking album from start to finish, that in my opinion, is better than the new killer Entrails.

Downfall Rising is pure Swedish death metal and is the most intense, catchy and brutal Swedish offering this year.  This is the return to form I was hoping for the new Entrails, but they decided to get even slower on their newest release, although it’s still killer.  Wombbath’s latest wipes the floor with them.  Holy crap this is brutal, with no shortage of blast beats too.  However Wombbath have crafted an album that has riffs I have never heard in other Swede inspired death metal acts, and these songs are catchy ,in a way, that you will not be able to stop humming these tunes in your head.

Personal faves, well the longest track, at over 6 minutes, “Fall of the Weak” is unreal.  The 3:15 part with the haunting guitar melodies is vicious to the max and the crunch on the guitar is one of the most wonderful guitar sounds this entire year-it’s perfect.  Vocals are deep, throaty and I’m able to pick out a fair amount of the lyrics.  The mid paced crunch is ridiculous, throughout this track.  The outstanding guitar riff over the faster ending part is a thing of a beauty.  “Putrid and Bound (By the Seed of Satan)” begins with some ultra fast double bass drumming and another outrageously heavy and catchy riff.  I love how the guitar solo at the 1:50 part just fades right into the quick blast beat.  The guitar crunch riff at the 3:50 part, played over the blast beat, is one of the greatest death metal moments for 2015.  It also has a slight theme from JAWS feeling to it as well.

With Desolate Shrine, Undergang and Wombbath, bludgeoning us all non-stop, Dark Descent is killing it again this year, and I am going to have a tough time with which one is the number 1 this year.  Downfall Rising has a perfect production, truly, it is wonderful and the album cover is lights out, marvelous. It would make a killer tattoo.  Wombbath have returned in a HUGE way and have unleashed a beastly, heavy devastatingly brutal album.  Buy or get buried “Underneath the Rotten Soil”!!!!

[Visit the band's website]

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