I have not heard the band’s 2012 debut Engravings of a Gruesome Epitaph, so I cannot make a direct comparison, but I’m digging this so much, I might need to grab it. First off, the guitar tone courtesy of Federico Pennazzato (Black Flame, Mortuary Drape) , is just sick, and might be one of my favorite non HM boss guitar tones of the year so far.

The 9 song, 35 minute affair, isn’t about individual riffs or moments (there are plenty), but a crawling, rumbling ichor of totality that is incredibly heavy and satisfying, mixing both wall of noise blasting (opener “Eternal Warspate”, “Necropath”, “Oath of the Raidergods”) and slower, oozing mid paced and doom like dirges (“Maelstrom of Massacre”, standout “Of Graven Blood and Earth”, “Apocalytomb”).  And that’s where the band really shine, allowing the massive guitar tone to lurch and stagger with muddy, but hefty menace.  And while the band’s grasp of the English language isn’t quite there yet, their mastery of Incantation and even some Bolt Thrower ish like riffs is fucking spot on.

Another standout release from the always reliable FDA Records, and arguably one of the labels better offerings over the last few years. Really good stuff.