The Pitch: Earth Rot, old school death metal from Australia, are back in action with a new, self-released LP. FFO Decomposed, Grave Plague, Shed the Skin
What I Like: Bravo for tossing in that random saxophone solo and killer acoustic portion later in the album. It's starting to become almost passé at this point with so many avant-garde black metal bands and even groups like Wrvth utilizing such features regularly, but it still adds a nice punctuated surprise to the album. Even that stuff aside, Renascentia is a truly vicious release. H-2 pedal galore on these dominating tremolo lines and punchy chords, drums to wreck your face, and of course the unabashedly insane vocal performance of Jared Bridgeman. It'll take you less than a few seconds to recognize the old school fury of these scornful death growls. Anyone can scream, but it takes a pro to inject this level of nihilism and personality into the delivery. Many of these tracks are defined by his opening howls.
What I Don't Like: It's not perfect. There are a few moments where I find myself thinking a riff could have been stronger. But overall my qualms are very minor.
The Verdict: Waves of the blackest mire, indeed. I can think of no more fitting description for Renascentia than that. This is pure death metal of the highest pedigree, and not without its own little quirks along the way. Get it tomorrow. Stream it early HERE.
Flight's Fav's: Terraform, Panoptic Terror, Funeral Pyre