They may not be nearly as well known as some of the other US death metal bands out there, but Pennsylvania based Mausoleum has been offering up zombie and horror themed death metal since 2001. Part of this is likely due to the infrequent nature of their releases, as they had an eight-year gap between their first and second full lengths and album three comes thirteen years after that. In the interim there have been some lineup changes, as guitarist Craig Stiles moved from backing to lead vocals over the course of a few splits and Abazagorath’s Chris Demydenko took over on drums from long-time member Rick “Slim” Boast. But despite these shifts Defiling the Decayed showcases that Mausoleum’s core approach to death metal hasn’t changed and they have that familiar bottom-heavy lurch to back it up.
Both Cadaveric Displays of Ghoulish Ghastliness and Back from the Funeral opted for very raw production values that made them sound older than they were at the time of release, and while that’s been retained on Defiling the Decayed there are some noticeable steps forward. One of the biggest differences is how the drums sound, as they were surprisingly soft on the last album but have much more weight and power this time around while still having that old-school crunchiness. Mausoleum has continued to emphasize the low-end, often making everything sound like it lurches at you like a zombie, but this is arguably the most balanced each instrument has felt and they’ve done it without losing the rawer qualities. Songwriting wise there aren’t a ton of surprises to what the band is doing, as they tread well-worn ground with mid-tempo grooves, faster blasting, and slower passages where a darker and sinister atmosphere builds over time. But it’s delivered in a way that is sure to appeal to anyone that enjoys older American death metal, and tracks like “Nine Eternities in Doom” showcase the group at their best with scorching solos and denser blasting that gives way to slower passages with subtle melodies that add to the feeling of horror. The solos are one of the elements that makes this album enjoyable to listen to, as “Gravefucked” and “Undead Dissection” give time for the guitars to get a bit wilder, and I love the way that the guitars seem to ebb and flow like an out-of-control fire behind the vocals on the former. There are a few lulls and passages that drag, as both “Beyond the Cemetery Gates” and “Curse of the Tomb” feel a bit repetitive at certain points and don’t stand out quite as much as the rest of the album. But there’s still plenty to like for those that live and breathe everything death metal, and it’s clear the long time between albums hasn’t dulled Mausoleum’s attack.
Craig Stiles officially took over the lead vocal position on the 2020 split with Anatomia, and his style is a natural fit for Mausoleum’s sound. Stiles has one of those lower growls that really fills out the sound as it seems to expand over top of the instrumentation, and there’s just the right level of distortion to the pitch that gives it that inhuman and ghoulish feel. Adding Chris on backing vocals was also a smart move, as he covers some of the higher screams and shrieks that give variety to the performance and keep the intensity at a high. All of this will be familiar for anyone that’s spent any amount of time with death metal, but it’s done well and the mix of highs and lows don’t come across as too generic or predictable. Mausoleum also incorporates some horror samples on some of the songs, and they integrate seamlessly with the material without feeling like added fluff.
Mausoleum’s been one of those bands that has largely flown under the radar, but each of their albums has captured the horror and gore-soaked nature of old-school death metal in a way that’s appealing. On full length number three the band arguably has the best production values of their career, retaining some of the rawness of their past material while offering a fuller and more powerful sound. Writing wise there are some killer solos and leads mixed with some occasional spots that drag, and while it’s not quite my favorite out of the more recent death metal albums I’ve listened to there’s still plenty to like about what this long-running act is doing. Defiling the Decayed is available from Moribund Records.
-Review by Chris Dahlberg