Much like country and label mates Stigmatized, Germany’s Symbiontic are a Death worshipping band plying a form of old school death metal, but with a heavy Testimonies era Pestilence feel as heard on this re-issue of their self released 2002 debut.

Stylistically Symbiontic and Stigmatized are virtually the same except Symbiontic have a more guttural/layered vocal approach and have a slightly more technical, intellectual feel to their sound often by virtue of a few ethereal instrumental interludes with really solidify the Pestilence influence (“From Subexistence”, “Incessantly Efflorescing”, “Through Catharsis” and “Epilogue”) or in track acoustic breaks (“Seductively They Will Speak”), but the bulk of their sound is still basically rooted in Human era Death (and Pestilence) with slightly more extreme injections (maybe Morbid Angel?) here and there.

Still though, as with Stigmatized’s release, this is hardly a must gem of classic old school death metal but rather a solid offering from a talented band who know their influences and wear them on their sleeve. Tracks like “Shotgun Surgery”, “Soulraped” (again with the early 90’s titles) and “Corrosive” deliver technically competent, well played though hardly as elite as their peers. However, both this and the Stigmatized album are worth a bargain bin or internet purchase if you with to relive death metal glory days in some slightly less brilliant form.

[Visit the band's website]

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