BARBAROUS : " Initium Mors"

This Oakland-based death metal band sits right in the middle of the classic death metal sound. With riffs that click together with a precision that finds the grind flowing like a finely tuned machine of destruction. The bass tone is not buried and can be heard churning with the taunt chug of the guitar. The vocals are on the lower side of the spew, more like "Formulas Fatal to the Flesh " era Morbid Angel. On the second song, they pour on a little more speed, but return to a more deliberate riff.  The layered vocals on the chorus work well and give the song a bigger sound. It also highlights the fact that the vocals have a purpose rather than being an afterthought. 

There is a little more groove to some of the riffing that makes up 'Tools of the Trade", though the previous two songs have a little more hook to them. The title track highlights the great drumming, but when I review a death metal album, I am always less impressed because you have to be a beast to play drums in a death metal band to begin with. It might be the most technically sound song so far.  By the time we grind our way to 'the Tomb Spawn', it begins to sound like every other death metal band as the frantic pace quickens. 

To the band's credit, things are kept close to the three-minute mark; they do not allow the songs to sprawl out and keep things as a one-two punch. "Conscious Decomposition" is the first song that brings Cannibal Corpse to mind. "Aointing the Sick" is hammering in a manner not unlike Goatwhore. 

The last song finds them pouring on more speed, but not at a rushed absurd level, just carrying more locmotion in its attack. The vocals are more of an accent. I will give this album a 9, as they are very good at what they are going, and perfected a sound, while still writing songs, to create a perfect template for death metal in 2025, not the most original death metal album I heard all year, certainly effective. 

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