Blood Mortized‘s self released 2009 debut was one of my coolest old school Swedish death metal discoveries during the genre’s current revival. And though featuring former and current members of Amon Amarth and Crypt of Kerberos, the band didn’t seem to have as high of a profile as some of their contemporaries, but with an upcoming full length CD on FDA Rekotz, this 4 song EP should put the band on the genre’s radar.

Originally released as a 3 song cassette, Bestial has one additional song (“Of Dust & Doom”) further adding to the HM-2 boss pedal goodness contained within. Like Entrails‘ first album, Blood Mortized don’t sound quite so much as a throw back or forced retro act, but a lost, forgotten band unearthed 20 years later. Even with a slightly cleaner sound than the debut, the record still has a nostalgic, honest murky buzz and a delivery that’s culls shamelessly from the genres Stockholm  based originators.

Opener, “Bestial” has a classic Stockholm canter and rhythm that makes no bones about the bands sound, almost to the point where it sounds like a forgotten Unleashed cover, but that’s a good thing. The new track, “Of Dust & Doom” functions as more of an interlude that an actual song, being a sort of doomy, percussive repetitive bridge, and does sound a bit like filler. However, “Shadow of the Quarter Sun”, gets things back on track with a burly rumbling number with a classic melodic but haunting mid section. The EP’s closer, the 6 minute “Rekviem” is the EP’s standout and centerpiece, a slow burning, monstrous track which closes with a tribal rumble and chant, signalling that this years second album will be something special.

 

[Visit the band's website]

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