ALBUM REVIEW: Crawl – Rituals

Today I review the new album from Swedish Death Metallers CRAWL, entitled ‘Rituals’ and set for release on Transcending Obscurity Records.

1. Reject The Cross kicks the album in with distorted noise and Boss HM-2 soaked riffing, there is no holds barred and the beautiful sounds of traditional Swedish Death Metal come in with full, unrelenting force. There is no need for charm or tidiness, just an in-your-face barrage of brutality and high-gain tones. The crashing drums and snarled vocals sound killer and the mix is raw and filthy with tons of grit, but still very tight. This opening track has already got my hopes up for what lies ahead, bring it on!
2. Breathing Violence once more blasts into the blast beats and tremolo picked riffs with ridiculous amounts of gain on the instruments, the songs are so damn groovy and the use of feedback sounds so old school. The chasm of Death Metal warfare created in the track is just astonishing and all of the elements I love about Swedish Death Metal are present. Excellent work.
3. The Stench opens with feedback, sludgy tremolo picked riffs and a nail biting feel to the track. There is thrashing fury and sludgy mayhem throughout. This song is a perfect example of how Death Metal can be varied, crushing to listen to and in its own way, beautiful. Final point on the track, there are some ultra-catchy guitar riffs in here with some great melodies, and some Doomy as hell sludge too! Absolutely phenomenal material.
4. Black Ritual comes in strong, with plenty of Death n Roll feel, upbeat riffs and such a raunchy sound as there has been throughout. Gorgeously written music, with gnarly vocals and a really 90s feel to it. There is nothing flashy or eccentric, it really is down-to-Earth and relatable underground worship of the bands countrymen and predecessors, and they do an honourable job of carrying the Swedish flag (blood-soaked with a little Boss HM-2 emblem). The bass tone in the break is absolutely perfect, a real eargasm for the Death Metal lovers.
5. Trail Of Traitors is catatonically heavy and every note on the guitar/bass, every drum hit and vocal line hits like a brick wall. Fantastically driven music with no doubt, pure furious, rampaging Metal thunder. The tremolo picked parts are really captivating to listen to and almost hypnotic, then the chugged-out manic riffs just hit you in the face. Amazing vocals with so much classic Death Metal appeal to them and the drums punctuate and hit with everything so much harder because of the way it is all mixed together. Excellent production, musicianship and songwriting.
6. Sentenced To Rot brings us more frantic, thrashing riff-noise. This album really keeps you on your toes and would be insane live, I am certain. The music may not be to everyones taste in the Metal world, but the band absolutely nail what they were going for to near perfection. I would like to see a bit more lead guitar work but at the end of the day, the filth-ridden guitar riffs are so strong throughout it is not a major issue to me, just something that might add a little extra flourish and flavour to it. The breakdown (of sorts) is so damn nasty and really makes you want to headbang until your neck falls apart. Amazing song, and by far the best so far for me.
7. Cowards feels more like a Grindcore song with its upbeat and chaotic style, clearly at least somewhat punk influenced. It makes a nice change in pace for sure, but thankfully does not lose the album any of its relentless and glorious attack. A great number, that while not straying far from their sound, shows a little diversity in the music which is always interesting. The drum/bass bridge sounds like thunder, it is so damn heavy and is joined once more with the demonic vocals and rasping guitars.
8. Suffer has some really catchy melodies used that really spice things up, the Bolt Thrower like vocals sound wicked, but the backing music still sticking true to the Swedish sound, I think it works well the way the band are uncompromising with their sound. They do not try to be modernised or overly original, they seem to just wish to add more to an amazing style of music, which I really enjoy. Absolutely excellent music, songwriting and production ! Yet another killer piece of glorious, groove-filled mania.
9. Coven Of Servants closes the album, although from the off shows no real sign of the freighter of crushing heaviness stopping. The real break-neck groove of the album is one of the strongest characteristics, and has remained throughout, thankfully. The chugging and raw guitar/bass work is accompanied beautiful with battering drums and rage-fuelled vocals. This final track is one more slab of punishing Death Metal fury.

What we get is pure, unadulterated Swedish Death Metal, riffs to spare, hideous vocals and crashing drums throughout. Pure worship of bands like Entombed, Dismember, Entrails, Gorguts, At The Gates and other similar acts. Beautiful, chaotic, noise. -9.5/10