I have reviewed all of Sanguisugabogg’s prior releases, so it would make sense that I reviewed their latest album, Hideous Aftermath. I predicted years ago the band was going to blow the F up, and that is precisely what has happened – I am Nostradamus. With their incessant worldwide touring, huge social media presence as well, and the band remaining intact and honing their live shows, this album will push the band even further.

One of the things very noticeable is in many ways, this album is more straightforward death metal, and while the grooves and chunky slams are ever present, they have shifted away from the slamminess, in certain respects. This album has a tremendous amount of vocal guests to boot, and also sees the band experimenting with some industrial parts. There is a lot to absorb on this release, as this is about a 48-minute-long album, their last one at 45 minutes, seeing the band shift from their previous shorter efforts to longer songs. Again, it’s a lot of beef with quite a meaty production.

“Rotted Entanglement” starts things off, and honestly, the band could not have picked a better opening song. Some bands get it right, some do not, with opening songs. The ‘Bogg literally come out swinging, going straight into vicious blast beat territory. Around the 1.40 section, an ever-crucial slam hits with Devin laying waste with a perfectly timed growl. This part had me punching holes in random houses throughout the day. This moment is godly, no other way to put it, and Cody has improved even more so on the drums. His double bass work and drum rolls are super creative. More of the beefy chunkiness that is Sanguisugabogg’s m.o. starts at the 4.02 Holy Shit moment. Drew has the isolated guitar riff timed perfectly, as he plays it not too fast and not too slow, and boom right into the slam with Ced’s bass guitar helping to keep the brown note alive. Devin growls like his life depends on it, and this chunky part stays in place until the end. Absolutely terrific song and a great opening live tune, as well.

“Felony Abuse of a Corpse” has to be one of the very best song titles I have heard in some time, and one of the things I do notice on this album is very similar Cannibal Corpse-inspired lyrics. This song even has some off-kilter moments with a bit of poly-rhythms happening. This groovy song gets groovier and groovier, which will be an utter bloodbath pit session at a show. At the 4.23 Holy Shit part, we are greeted with Damonteal Harris, from PeelingFlesh, with those ultra-low putrid gutturals. Perfect ending to yet another wild song.

Let’s skip to “Repulsive Demise”. This was a single, prior to the album release. The day before the song was released, on video, the band made some cryptic social media posts about looking out for the song the next day and their love for Godflesh or something to that effect. Welp, the band merged the two of industrial and death metal perfectly on this song. With a strong early Godflesh/Pitch Shifter song. There are perfectly timed industrial sounds, a little drum sampling happening, as well as vocal effects. All of this is wrapped up in a slow, sludgy heaviness, as this song moves like a sloth ready to roll over everything in its path. There is also a darkness and creepiness to this song, and believe it or not, this is my favorite song on the album. I was a huge fan of the early industrial death movement in the late 80’s/early 90’,s and to hear Sanguisugabogg craft a song like this – well, this better not be the last time they do this on an album. If they decide to play this live, the sound guy, better work with the band to ensure all these industrial moments are created live, to give the full experience in a live setting.

“Erotic Beheading” is up next with a killer opening groove section that is sludgy with ham-fisted heaviness before the band erupts into one of the fastest blast beat moments the band has ever written. There’s also a plethora of juicy growls on this sucker. The rest of the songs are great, with “Abhorrent Contraception” having guest vocals from Defeated Sanity’s Josh Welshman. His gutturals erupt towards the end of the song, where some kick ass pinch harmonics are placed perfectly.

Hideous Aftermath sports an interesting album design. Calling to mind some sort of witchcraft and or ceremony totem. The CD digipak is well designed with cool pictures and horror illustrations as well as lyrics. I swear those liner notes are small AF. I had my readers on and still could barely make them out.

With Sanguisugabogg offering up some new treats, such as the industrial death metal moments, it is a breath of fresh air to see the band continuing to expand and hone their craft with each release. This album will sell by the bucketloads, the band will be touring all over the universe with this one, and the accolades the band receives are well-deserved and earned. They put in the work, they tour, and write killer death metal music. Crushing!!!!

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