Torture Rack – Primeval Onslaught (Review)

This is the third album from US death metallers Torture Rack.

It’s been five years since Malefic Humiliation, and since then that album has continued to grow on me over time, like a creeping rot. Yep, I’m ready for Primeval Onslaught.

I confess I had concerns, simply because I dislike the artwork and the band’s new logo. However, as soon as the opening song Ceremonial Flesh Feast erupted with a killer riff and that classic OSDM sound, I was hooked. Torture Rack are back, and they’re covered in blood and ready to slaughter.

Primeval Onslaught is bursting at the seams with 26 minutes of gore-soaked old-school death metal. Yes, you’ve heard it all before, but who cares? Torture Rack wear their influences on their sleeves; it’s what they do with them that counts, and on Primeval Onslaught they tear out song after song of traditional entrail-strewn death metal that doesn’t so much hit the spot as obliterate it.

The short songs are violent and intense. The band have a grim talent for exhuming murderous riffs, and the music is packed tight with them. With no frills and no filler, Torture Rack have sewn together a single-minded death metal monster. Throw in a few severed limbs from grindcore’s putrid corpse, and you have an album that keeps on giving.

Primeval Onslaught is very aptly named. It’s ugly, gruesome, brutal, and pure savage fun. It’s the sort of record you stick on at full volume when you want to be absolutely pulverised by death metal that’s played in the classic style by people who clearly love what they do.

I mean, what’s not to like here? If you’re a fan of the style, then this is hard to pass up.

Very highly recommended.