Sweden’s traditional death metal is very much alive and well. With bands like Bloodbath, Entombed, and Entrails keeping the tradition of the “buzzsaw” guitar tone alive, it’s easy to forget Sweden made the antithesis of it with melodic death metal. Even though films like Metal: A Headbanber’s Journey lumps bands like Grave and Arch Enemy into one genre, simply dubbed “Swedish Death Metal,” it’s more evident that the bands that follow the likes of Entombed and the such are a different breed than even the traditional death metal bands from the rest of the world.
Gravebomb, locals to Gothenburg, are keeping that Entombed-style death metal going strong. Voracious and relentless, Gravebomb have been hyping this debut album up for some time. After some bumps in the road, the band was finally able to release Rot In Putrid Filth on April 22nd, and it seems the time spent waiting has been worth it. After a haunting a slow-building intro, Gravebomb assault you with no mercy whatsoever. Notably, the band never sacrifices its brutality in an effort to let the guitars carry a dissonant melody, or even throw guitar solos around, such as in “Sulphur Salvation.” There is rarely a calm moment in Gravebomb’s music, and even when there is, it’s soon to throw you back into the hurricane. Gravebomb breathe death metal, and they’re triumphantly showing everyone what the genre is about.
Despite the guttural, bloodthirsty vocals and the heart attack-inducing drum beats, Gravebomb manages to make death metal fun and enjoyable, evidently not a band to suffocate their listeners with near-identical songs. Every song stands out from one another and offers something new to the familiar sound of death metal, which is always refreshing in a genre of many bands recycling the same sounds over and over again. Gravebomb do wear their influences proudly, but when the music they’re releasing is of a higher standard and shows them crafting diversity, you’ve got to hold them in a higher regard than other bands around them.
With this being their debut album, Gravebomb have set the standard high for themselves. Right now, they should be extremely proud of themselves, because this album is everything about death metal that makes it so great.
Rot In Putrid Filth is available for streaming and purchase on Gravebomb’s Bandcamp page, as well as being able to listen on Spotify, Google Play, YouTube, and CDbaby, all available through their Facebook page.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdPehS98wkA[/youtube]
