This is the latest EP from Russian black/death metal band Thanatomass.
Following on from 2023’s Hades, Thanatomass have now returned with the three-track EP The Rabid Dead. Across 20 minutes, Thanatomass deliver a scorching display of corrosive black/death nastiness.
The EP opens with the title track’s furious barrage of monstrous riffs and screaming solos. The vocals are inhuman growls and roars, unleashed with zealous fury while the music drives itself forward with relentless brutality. As the song twists, contorts, and mutates, Thanatomass forcefully shove the listener through its punishing assault with gleeful malevolence. It’s a devastating way to spend seven minutes.
Following this is the shortest cut of the release. The three-minutes of Flesh Cataflaque & The Covenant Semen reek of first wave black metal that’s been corroded by bestial black/death’s toxic touch. It’s foul and harsh, delivering an adrenaline shot to the chest, before punching straight through the ribcage, ripping out the heart, and eating it raw. Nasty.
The Rabid Dead closes with the 10-minute From Vein into Chalice. This song is a churning maelstrom of darkness and violence, conjured into existence by Thanatomass’ malefic sorceries. It’s an otherworldly assault on the senses, an all out attack of esoteric murdervenom, but one that retains a core of structured restraint. Thanatomass have a battle plan, a method to their arcane warfare, and with From Vein into Chalice they orchestrate its execution very well.
Jolly good stuff. Thanatomass have produced an EP that’s sure to satisfy fans of acts such as Archgoat, Coscradh, Hexekration Rites, Malthusian, and Teitanblood.
Wonderbox Metal 