Germany’s bludgeoners of death, Stillbirth, return with Survival Protocol, their ninth full-length studio effort and debut for Reigning Phoenix Music. Their albums have run the gamut of brutal death metal, deathcore, to even smatterings of technical death metal. The one thing I really like about Stillbirth, is that they have improved their sound and style with each album.

Their earlier efforts had more hardcore shouting vocals, mixed with the death metal brutality. I feel it was on their fifth album, Annihilation of Mankind, in 2018, that they really hit their stride. This would also mark the time they debuted their new band logo on an album. The 5-piece has remained intact for these last few albums with: Lukas Swiaczny – Vocals, Martin Grupe – Drums, Lukas Kaminski – Bass, Leonard Willi – Guitars (lead), and Szymon Skiba -Guitars. The band always has super colorful album cover designs, and their style of post-apocalyptic brutality, science fiction etc.. continues on this album.

Survival Protocol is 9 songs in 35 minutes, which is the perfect amount of time for this over-the-top brutality. “Existence Erased” begins with some science fiction sounds before the music gets going. The beginning style sounds like the deathcore band Distant. Crushing groove, with stop and start djent style death metal. The blast beat erupts after, before getting back into that djent death metal style, stop and start groove. Vocals are putrid and filthy. Then we get this break in the music, with flamenco guitars, and I was like, ‘am I now listening to Impureza?’ This moment really caught me off guard, before the bludgeoning heaviness returns. We are treated to a fairly decent technical guitar solo, that slides into an isolated bass guitar section before the pit-inducing groove opens. Hey, some pig squeal vocals and pinch harmonics carry this sucker all the way to the song ending. This is the perfect opener for a live concert, as well as showcasing all the styles the band is bringing together. Deathcore, brutal death metal, djent, technical death metal, and some flamenco style. Stillbirth is a weird, brutal band that combines these styles seamlessly.

“Trapped in Darkness” is a perfect example of brutal technical death metal with a few nods to Decrepit Birth with fast technical riffing. The blasting on this song is tight AF, with some solid drum rolls and double pounding drums that will shatter your chest cavity. The 3.20 timestamp is a slow and melodic moment that adds a pinch harmonic or two, before the mid-paced moment comes in, then blast to end the song. This song has the Stillbirth sound to it, but is very different than the album opener.

“Throne of Bones” is next and is also more varied. Opening up with some Soulfly-inspired tribal drumming with some heavy start and stop slamming, before the blast beat gets things underway. Pinch harmonics are sharply played and are well placed. There is a nice Holy Shit moment with the isolated guitar riff at the 2.35 marker. Then music comes in, with the Soulfly drums, a well-placed growl, and then right into a deathcore beatdown. This may be my favorite section on the album. This part I enjoy repeating several times, especially since those Soulfly drums repeat throughout this section.

The title track is all over the place with technical and progressive madness, with the bass guitar really up in the mix. Sounding like moments Sadus would do on their first three albums. The bass plucking sounds great, and double pounding madness, then blasts, pig squeals and technical guitar riffing. Pinch harmonics rear their heads over the blast beats, then a monster slow down, with pit heaving heaviness, erupts.

Survival Protocol is a most excellent album and showcases the various musical styles from Stillbirth. The band can craft memorable songs, even with all these various styles thrown at us. The production is loud, crisp, and heavy. When certain moments need to be piped in louder, such as bass plucking, guitar solos, or growls, they are there to enhance and never overpower the rest of the mix. Stillbirth are the perfect band to listen to at the gym. Heavy, brutal, and keeps the adrenaline pumping. Excellent album!

[Visit the band's website]

---

Comments