Rude – Soul Recall (Review)

RudeRude are from the US and play Old-School Death Metal through and through. This is their début.

This is the kind of lumbering, rolling Death Metal that’s easy to like and full of good intentions. It’s an instantly familiar style of music and all of the hallmarks are in place for it to be a very welcoming listen.

Death, Autopsy, etc. – the usual reference points. This is not to belittle Rude, but they play a very specific genre of music so if you’re familiar with the greats you know what to expect here, and Rude deliver the goods.

The vocals have an unusual tint to them that sounds as if they’re scraping and tearing the singer’s throat raw on their way out of his mouth. Hopefully this isn’t the case, but you know what they say about suffering for your art…

The band have managed to capture that classic Death Metal sound from yesteryear and exploit this to the full with the crashing, fill-happy drums, prime riffage and widdly bass.

This is 44 minutes of enjoyable music played by people with a love of the genre and who know how to handle the material and do it justice. Have a listen to Soul Recall.

Funest – Desecrating Obscurity (Review)

FunestFunest are an Italian Death Metal band and this is their début album.

After a perfunctory intro the band have at it; they specialise in Old-School brutality from the likes of Dismember, Autopsy, etc. This is primitive and heavy with a firm nod to the Swedish school of Death Metal but also acknowledging classic Death Metal in general.

The vocalist deserves special mention as he has a great voice; a firm, deep growl that’s as expressive as it is bellowing and cavernous.

The band make the most of their rich heritage by focusing on the value of each song and not neglecting substance for style. Each track contains what it needs to be an effective Death Metal beast and doesn’t ruin itself by wondering off into areas unsuitable or ill advised. There’s no fat here, just a lean Metal machine.

As followers of this site will know, I have a soft spot for Swedish-influenced Death Metal. It’s just so very satisfying and timeless. The grooves, rhythms and riffs all pound along with that chainsaw sound and the end result is Death Metal that hits the spot.

This is also a good description of Funest. This is an enjoyable album that I’ll be happily blasting out for some time.

Have a listen and see if you agree.

Graveyard Ghoul – The Living Cemetery (Review)

Graveyard GhoulThis is the second full length album from Germany’s Graveyard Ghoul, who specialise in primitive Death Metal of the ugliest type.

This is Old-School to the chewed-on bone but don’t let that fool you into thinking it has nothing to offer. This album contains 31 minutes worth of thoroughly enjoyable romps through the graveyard.

If you take Autopsy as the starting point you’re in a good place, and Graveyard Ghoul embody their Death Metal ideals to perfection.

The songs use the guitars well and have a penchant for the slower, doomier riffs as well as the faster, more brutal parts.

Harking back to a pre-sanitised/sterilised Death Metal era, The Living Cemetery is completely untouched by any and all trends and corruptions of the genre that have occurred through the years.

It’s with hand on gravestone that I firmly recommend you add this album to your collection.