I’ve consumed a substantial amount of death metal this year. It has typically been that nasty, new-school death metal I’ve been enjoying. Coffin Mulch is in that mold(er), except they’re that buzzsaw variety of Swedish death metal, hailing from somewhere not Sweden… It’s the UK if you’re wondering.
I quite enjoyed Septic Funeral and nearly had to fight to the death to review this one, so I’m glad they do not disappoint. The intro to the first track sounds like a chaotic horror scene (and may be a sample from one for all I know), with the chainsaw at the end cementing that vibe. However, once the title track, which is still the first one, gets going, the Swe-death influence is clear with an excellent bass sound, too. The track is a mission statement, punctuated with some truly pained, tortured vocals.
While the first one lets you know what you’re getting, the next, “Into the Blood,” drives it further with a little more groove. Take for instance the brutal section that erupts halfway through with an isolated bass, which then turns into a groovy, nasty beatdown. However, if you hadn’t noticed already, Coffin Mulch certainly has a punk, or death punk sound in certain sections.
The beginning of “Mental Suicide,” the next track, is slower than what they’ve done so far. It stays that way even when the vocals start nearly a minute in. At least until it doesn’t, which is a short time later when it turns into a punk verse, then directly into another groove. Despite it all staying firmly inside that death metal box, this is one of the most diverse tracks.
I could go through this track by track, but I won’t have room if I continue, so let’s dive into the latter half. On track 7, “Infernal Mass,” the beginning is deceiving, especially since it’s barely over 2 minutes. It starts slow and groovy, so I thought it might be an interlude, but it kicks into gear immediately. That punk style is at the forefront again.
On the last one, “Eternal Enslavement,” if you thought you would be getting the longest track on the album, well, you’re correct. It starts out with an isolated bass, then goes into familiar territory. I was expecting a plodding, slow bruiser, and while the band never really hits what anyone would call “fast” when it comes to death metal, it’s mostly mid-paced. However, the ending with the vocals fading out to an isolated, distorted guitar is one of the best sections on the album. So, it’s over 6 minutes, doesn’t feel that way, and ends well.
When I reviewed another death metal album recently, this new Coffin Mulch is what I wanted. Old school, analog-sounding production, killer songs, riffs, vocals, and a tight, nasty drum performance. I’m a fan of this one, and as it’s around 30 minutes, it’s a quick listen. There’s no wheel reinventing, but old school, or more appropriately, the new wave of old school death metal does not get old for me. As long as killer bands keep releasing killer material, I’m here for it. Coffin Mulch is no exception.
