Necromonger "Abyssal Flesh Construct" (Review)

Necromonger Abyssal Flesh Construct

2025 SBDC Records (CD)

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4/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the second full length from this Canadian deathmachine, this time on Russia's SBDC Records. It's heavy and slamming but not overly simplistic. The vocals are guttural without being silly - sort of like an evil-ass reptile. However, there's not a lot of power behind them, but that's down to the singing style, most likely. They remind me just slightly of the UK's Amputated, just without the varied song structures. It's cleanly produced stuff, which goes a long way toward making this style more memorable. This is total caveman metal. The problem I have with so many of these bands, this one included, is that there's very little to distinguish them from one another. The double bass under the faster parts helps a little bit. By the fifth song this really starts blending together with the overabundance of slam riffs, unfortunately. I wanted this to be better, but it's instead just another slam act.

Carcass Rapist "A Back Alley Sweet Release" (Review)

Carcass Rapist "A Back Alley Sweet Release"

2024 SBDC Records (CD)

BADASS SONG TITLES: The Holy Landfill, Drug Down the Sewer

BADASS TRACKS: All of them, you fucks!

This appears to be another of the prolific Dakota Rivera's bands, here appearing as The Crypt Ripper and performing the vocals. All the rest of the musical load is carried by Filip Riba, including drums, bass, and guitar. Dan Gates from TON infamy makes an appearance on the very last track, "Infant in a Trash Bag," and lends his vocals to the work alongside The Crypt Ripper. Dan's come a long way as a vocalist, and his vocals have their own character. I can always tell it's him alternating lines in the song. I was pleased to hear him sound so good trading lines with the sick-ass singer from this band!

On to the rest. Musically the record is performed at a very high level, and it's firmly in the Tomb of the Mutilated camp in both songwriting and riffs. The guitar tone is also chunky as fuck, and as heavy as it possibly can be. There are some seriously killer riffs on this record, and they're all memorable enough to hold your attention during the 18 minutes this record takes to play. Vocally, The Crypt Ripper's style reminds me of later Impetigo or Jim Sadist from Nunslaughter, who are both firmly in the "Dr. Claw" (from Inspector Gadget) vocal style that I've learned to love over the years. I thought this was a bold choice, and a good one, since it really creates a different sound for the band. Death metal vocals aren't always thought of as important outside of making the music heavier, but this band proves that wrong. Diction, power of performance, style, and charisma can combine to make a performance special, and that happened here. I loved this part of the record probably more than anything else.

Real death metal maniacs will be impressed by this one, and they should be. They've got the whole package - brutal music, good songs, excellent sickening cover art, and a great offensive name. I want to hear a full-length from them to see if they can keep the magic up for 30 to 40 minutes, but I can say I'm a fan of this band from this point on due to this release, and I want more!