This Canadian band has an Entombed fixation. It has not consumed their indemnity, though the vocals lean in that direction. The guitars has a dense dirty drive to them. While some of the riffing is catchy the dark rotted guitar sound does not lend it self for a great deal of dynamics so the first two songs begin to sound the same. The sometimes find a galloping stomp that works better than blasting chaos, which happens upon occasion. There is a deliberate roar into the underworld on "Let the Rats Feed" along with a hint of melody in some of the guitar passages providing bridges from the verse.
"Land of Rot and Misfortune" does pull it together at the end with a big riff, but the rule here is cool riffs alone does not a good song make. "Crucifixion Shrine" churns in the subterranean mire of grinding guitars that has driven the album up to this point. Sonically "Swallowed Whole By the Abyss" is more interesting than the previous song. The Lovecraftian lyrics punch over the buzz of guitar. The effects that are layered over the vocals work really well. The slower pacing of " Dreams of Crows" was the only thing that clued me into the fact they had moved onto another song as things have become a blur of blown out speakers chugging out grime ridden guitar.
The last song works for what they do, never reinventing the wheel that crushes you as it rolls. There are some cool riffs and the whole Entombed meets Bolt Thrower hybrid, works well as a sound. Though there is some hint that they care about songs as well. It is brutal but does more than just brutalizes you as some of the stories they have to tell do bleed through the rumbling wall of death metal you are hit with. I think an 8 is fair enough for this album as it is single minded in it's gut wrenching lust to pummel you sonically.
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