Achlys is the band’s fifth album, and in case you’re wondering how Anasarca sounds, I’ll briefly break it down for you. They play a brutal form of death metal, which does harken back to their 90’s roots, and their music is very American-influenced. With smatterings of bands such as Suffocation and Deicide in their sound, as well as me picking up, over their releases, some early Hypocrisy – but only the first two albums from them – they’re best imo. So yes, be prepared for monstrous blast beats, pinch harmonics, gutturals, and powerful music to explode your head to. I was so thrilled when the band was picked up by Selfmadegod Records, one of my favorite labels out there. SMG-treat Anasarca right or there will be trouble.

10 songs in 40 minutes, and before I get into the first song, “My Reality”, I must explain that this is a concept album, and the concept and lyrics are very personal to Michael. I was honored with him sharing much of this with me. Throughout the years, the band has suffered losses of loved ones, including pets. Thus began the concept, as this album deals with grief and loss – just check out the amazing album cover. The band looked through their texts to others, about this concept, looked at writings over the course of time, and put it all together. A really neat idea. Michael sent me this album sometime last year. I have had numerous listens and have had this with me for a long time, and I must say it’s their best album.

The intro with the famous piano death march and creepy voiceover sets the tone for what is to come, then a monster drum roll and monstrous blast beat with Michael letting loose on an amazing growl. The intensity that is played on this song will rip your fucking head right off. The song gets into a slower, doomier passage, then an old school mid-paced double pounding beat. The guitar riff is super catchy – the band knows how to play it brutally but also catchily. More excellent drum rolls, kinda more like a drum solo, then the rhythm section erupts, is fantastic. Whew….. What a way to open this sucker.

I’ll mention that all the songs from the three-song Goddess promo are on here. The title track has an amazing opening, and the guitar riff has an early Hypocrisy sound to it, and the song is just plain vicious. The monster blasting and the part right before the minute mark are crucial. Luckily, they keep this going for a bit. Damn, and I thought their last album, Survival Mode, was catchy… I love that Michael lays out a lot of growls on this album, truly 90’s era type of brutality, and he gets into a bit higher range, and there is some vocal layering to go along with it. The blasts are beyond tight and are super-fast. Excellent tempo shifts galore on this. This is the best song on the album.

And what about “Pain Remains” – it’s not a Lorna Shore cover song, but this starts off brooding. Heavy AF and mid-paced with super-fast guitar riffing. Killer vocals ignite, and the bludgeoning heaviness continues until the blasting takes over. Some of these slower sections are the heaviest moments Anasarca has ever written, and the blasts are the fastest the band has ever sounded. The end almost takes on a gravity-blasting aura.

“Wish You Were Here” begins with mid-paced heaviness and crazy fast double bass, then right into the blasting. This continues and goes on for a bit, then mid-paced pummeling heaviness, and more blasting. Check out the time changes in this song. It sounds pretty challenging to play, but all the while super friggin’ catchy. This track is intense throughout.

Anasarca has returned in a huge way, and this is one helluva comeback album. With the stellar musicianship, supreme brutality, catchiness, album cover, tempo shifts, Achlys has all that and a bag of chips. The production is terrific, and this album is meant to be cranked at maximum volume. Armed with new members, a penchant to destroy, this album owns from start to finish!!!!!

After an intro, “Drinking Blood” pounds you with the drums then a ferocious growl.  Coupled with some well placed blast beats a short while later.  Damn what a catchy part.  Tight rhythm section and this band is beginning to remind me of Hypocrisy, when they were good.  Think the first 2 Hypocrisy albums, which is some of the best death metal, still to this day.  Anasarca retaining a very early 90’s death metal style, rooted in part in Swede death and some American brutality, kind of like really early Deicide.  They could not have picked a better opening tune.  The title track is up next and the mid-paced opening with the double bass is sure to lop anyone’s head off from around the corner.  Excellent guitar riffing.  Really heavy shit.  Song eventually gets into a monstrous blast and then slows down with a nice doomy part with awesome pinch harmonics, thrown in just to whip your fat ass into shape.

“Pacific Dread” is another great song, opening with a super fast blasting section and than going right into a classic 90’s stylized death metal beat with some layered vocals and this section is terrific. The 1.28 part is awesomely heavy with some background spoken word vocals before the monstrous growl belts you upside the head.  “The Donner Party” is an awesome title with a great opening throaty scream and I love how the blast goes back and forth and then slows down with a section that had me thinking a bit of Bolt Thrower, for some reason.  Nice little melodic guitar soloish section before an off-kilter beat.  The 2.07 part has an extraordinary heavy moment with vicious vocals and the double bass is fast, but sounds excellent.  “Cannibal” is an unreal song with its stop/start riffing and blasting and catchy passages.  Phenomenal track.

This edition contains 4 bonus tracks from the Dying recording session.  They do a scorching cover of Obituary’s “Godly Beings”, on one of the tracks.  The production is quite vicious, and the mix is spot-on.   Everything else sounds great and the guitar tone is like a goddamned razor.  The booklet is well designed with a great album cover, pictures, lyrics and looks great.  Anasarca was sure a surprise hit for me and mega-thanks Barrett!!  Survival Mode is a monstrous death metal album that is:  Brutal, catchy, well-written and excellent from start to finish.  A highlight for 2017.  Buy or Die!!