It Came From the Rotten Pile! (Bodybox, Morbific, Intolerance, Crypt Hammer)
- Matthew Rucki
- May 8, 2021
- 4 min read
This week I have a ton of underground, reeking death metal to bring to your attention, each with their own distinctly horrific sound to offer. So let's get digging!
Bodybox - Through the Bongfire (2021)
Bodybox are crushing their way into the death metal scene with their debut EP, Through the Bongfire, that is surely turning heads to the point of snapping peoples' necks. While I was writing down my notes throughout the week while jamming this album, I saw the vile four piece from Florida joined the Maggot Stomp family with a cassette release that is already sold out, so like I said, they're already making a name for themselves. So what do Bodybox have to offer? Well, Bodybox bring in a heavy, two stepping, style of death metal that feels like it's being written by fans of early deathcore and the current metalcore and hardcore scenes. The music is very low end and every hit is rounded out by a heavy bass. With this EP you'll hear those deep, wet gutturals that bring to mind Suicide Silence's The Cleansing overlaid with the heavy, chug-forward, brutal death metal sound that's akin to Sanguisugabogg. This is definitely an emerging style of death metal that is undeniably death metal, but has those breakdowns and the moshpit-opening heaviness that I feel will definitely bring fans of previously mentioned sub-genres over into the putrid land of death metal. Each song on this album has its memorable moments that get stapled to your subconscious. This album is chock full of heavy riffs and breakdowns that will grab you by the shirt and drag you through the mud again and again. This is an exciting first release from Bodybox and I can't wait to hear what comes next. Like I said the initial cassette release sold out, but keep your eyes peeled for future re-releases!
Band: Bodybox
Album: Though the Bongfire
Label: Maggot Stomp
Rating: 7.5/10
Morbific - Ominous Seep of Putridity (2021)
Rising from the undulating sea of maggots, corpses, and stench comes Morbific, a gore-infested trio from Finland. Morbific have released a truly filthy form of death metal akin to Impetigo, Immolation, and a style that feels like a cousin to some younger acts like Fetid and Cerebral Rot. The music is bound in a dirty, wet, percussive mix, where every hit of the double bass leaves behind a blood-soaked stain. Ominous Seep of Putridity is an intensely fun listen that keeps you banging your head from start to finish. Morbific balance a mid-tempo paced rocking death metal with moments of fast galloping thrash metal rhythms. They never step too far into any realms of intense technicality, but keeps things interesting, balancing fast guitar work with barbaric brutality. Within the album there are plenty of audio samples of various kinds that keep the gory aesthetic present in the listener's mind, the sounds of writhing maggots and swarming flies are very present and very welcome on this album, and the album's artwork, created by Chase Slaker, wraps everything up nicely into a wholistic experience. If you want a new kickass, gruesome, gore-filled, death metal album, then Morbific's Ominous Seep of Putridity is the album for you! Keep your rotten eyes peeled for upcoming cassette and vinyl releases of this awesome album through Headsplit Records and The Other Records!
Band: Morbific
Album: Ominous Seep of Putridity
Label: Headsplit Records
Rating: 8.5/10
Intolerance - Laments From the Dripstone Cave (2020)
Intolerance crawl forth from the abyss to curse humanity with their latest release, Laments From The Dripstone Cave. This album is dripping with old school death metal sound, full of gruff growling vocals, fuzzy guitar tones, and primitive, powerful drums. The guitar tones make the riffs feel like they are crumbling within the sound waves themselves. The destructive four-piece from Zaragoza, Spain deliver a raw, echoing death metal record that is steeped in a cold, dark atmosphere that takes the listener deep into a labyrinthian crypt full of hellish beasts and mental anguish. While jamming this record, I noticed all kinds of sounds from various other eras and bands all being blended together here like a ghastly riff-filled cauldron. Early Obituary, Massacre's From Beyond, Autopsy and Necrot are all present in this album, there's really something in here for all fans of death metal. A band like Intolerance really displays the thrash metal DNA that exists within death metal, giving the music a true old school sound that even has some subtle heavy metal influences at times. This album is a great time for any fan of death metal, my only critique is that the guitars lose a bit of their bite and get a bit quiet in the mix from time to time, but other than that this is a solid release. There is a limited run of vinyl that is still up on Life After Death, so if you want to get a physical copy of this banger, I suggest you hurry while supplies last!
Band: Intolerance
Album: Laments From The Dripstone Cave
Label: Independent
Rating: 6/10
Crypt Hammer - Crypt Hammer (2019)
Crypt Hammer get up close and personal with their debut 2019 self titled demo, punishing the listener with a flurry of guitar solos, engine revving riffs, and a snare tone that hits like a bullet through the brain. This is death metal that opens mosh pits, kicks in teeth, and crushes skulls, just listening to the ending to "Coffin Bong" gives me flashbacks to some crazy shows that feel like they happened forever ago at this point. Crypt Hammer is always leading from one heavy riff to the next, never giving a dull moment on this four song demo. Every time you think you know where the song is headed, Crypt Hammer takes the song in an entirely new direction that leaves your jaw hanging on by whatever scraps of flesh are still intact by the time they're done with you. The demo ends on a haunting climactic finish with the vocalist sending out his final words of a tale of war and suffering to the echoing abyss that closes out the album. Crypt Hammer's death metal sense blends together the new school style of heaviness with the old school passion for discordant, flair-filled guitar solos that nearly make a beer appear in your hand before you even realize you needed one. If you want an album that'll get the blood pumping and the party started, Crypt Hammer are your new best friends.
Band: Crypt Hammer
Album: Crypt Hammer
Label: To Live a Lie Records
Rating: 7/10
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