Album review: Gosudar - Morbid Despotic Ritual (2021)

Gosudar - Morbid Despotic Ritual

Russia

Rotted Life Records

 

Gosudar released one of the best albums of 2021 with "Morbid Despotic Ritual", an opus of ghoulishly evil, dark death metal. As this murky oeuvre unfolds, the band show a knack for excellent songcraft – delivering a barrage of destructive darkness, with references to 90s era Incantation, as well as drawing parallels to more contemporary acts such as Cemetery Urn and Dead Congregation. In addition to the ferocious nature of the music, the title seems to imply something physically macabre, and that's exactly what Gosudar achieves with this release. The whole thing is remarkably well-crafted and exudes a level of songwriting that puts them above some of their peers. As far as Russian death metal goes, Gosudar ranks among the best. Highly recommended. Stand-out tracks: “Demented Visions of Infinite Power” “Awakening of the Realm” “Insurrection of Nephilim”

 

Album Review: Mvltifission - Decomposition in the Painful Metamorphosis (2021)

Mvltifission - Decomposition in the Painful Metamorphosis

 

China

 

Rotted Life Records / Pulverized Records / Huangquan Records / Filth Junkies Records

 
When it comes to metal from China, my knowledge of their scene is admittedly not the best, but I would like to add here that Mvltifission released an incredible album back in 2021 that was undoubtedly one of that year’s best. The album harks back to the glory days of death metal, when bands still sounded original and had that obscure, evil sound. Comparisons to Demilich are inevitable, although the band seem to display enough individual chops in their arsenal to set them apart. A focal point of this album is undoubtedly their penchant for writing killer riffs and not sounding like a poor rehash of their influences, producing death metal that is both distinct and well-crafted. The vocals are putrid gutturals straight from the bowels of hell, complimented by bouncy bass riffs, excellent drumming, and dissonant riffs, all with a production that brings to mind Dawn of Possession era Immolation. All in all, if you enjoy bands like Demilich, Immolation and Demigod, then there’s no doubt in my mind that this gloomy slab of underground death is right up your alley.

EP review: Spasticus - Horror Chaos Death (2021)

 

Spasticus - Horror Chaos Death

Italy

Rotted Life Records

The smell of necrotic flesh invaded my nostrils and filled it with worms at the time of playing this EP, and I am sure it will do the same for you! So get ready to experience horror, chaos, and death!

This EP, which was released on June 25 of this year, really makes you imagine all that grotesque imagery that adorns the cover art. The initial impression it gives you is akin to being chased by some lunatic cannibal tribe. This is straightforward death metal redolent of having a dagger plunged into your jugular. It was designed to express perversion and a morbid killer instinct. It is a work that – if you do not know the date it was released – you might think that it is another of many secretly hidden relics from the ‘90s, as there is almost nothing modern about it. The monstrous Spasticus slowly pulls at your limbs until the flesh begins to tear apart. Something that completely corrodes the mind of the Death/grind bands is the constant blow to your senses, which leaves no room for you to stop and rest until the album is finished. The bass sounds fat and repulsive, the voice seems to be spitting out chunks of meat like a fucking hungry zombie. Festering guitars expel structures that apprehend the senses, especially when they are exposed in contrasting arrangements and fused together with the adequately-executed drums, giving tremendous hammer blows that will make your bones vibrate. In addition to all that headlong fury, they display a great conviction to craft disgusting riffs that any fan of the ‘80s or ‘90s will appreciate, as well as those morbid melodies, which are nothing short of brutal. About 20 minutes of dirty and addictive Death/grind sickness for fans of Impetigo, Autopsy, and Abscess. (Catacombs Walker)