EP REVIEW: Crematory Stench – Grotesque Deformities

Here I review a new re-release of an EP from CREMATORY STENCH, this is the bands 2nd EP of hideously brutal Death Metal, set for release via Blood Harvest Records on February 15th. This release was put out on tape a couple of months ago by Headsplit Records but Blood Harvest will be handling the CD and vinyl reissue.

1. Interlude opens with creepy ambience, setting a horrific mood yet with a sense of tranquility to the eerie soundscapes. This was very interesting to hear, something I would associate more with a Black Metal release. A really unique and cool start to a Death Metal EP.
2. Septic Offal fires right into blisteringly raw assaults with fast guitar tremolo picking, grisly drum beats and a howl from the vocalist. The lo-fi production and doomy atmospherics create a cavernous and monolithic soundscape of hideously heavy extremities that is unsettling and brooding with contempt. Gnarly rhythms and grooves allow for the cascading darkness of the song to take you into a raw, hideous piece of truly gruesome Death Metal, right from the abyss. Fantastic work!
3. Grotesque Deformities opens with the cocking of a shotgun before throwing more monstrously heavy riffs, blast beats and demonic vocals at us. The maniacal speeds and furious music is absolutely unrelenting with a totally chaotic, violent and aggressive feeling. The blackened touches to the material give it that bit more heinously harsh attack the complements the forebodingly hellish Death Metal beautifully. The frenzied lead guitar solo was a really cool touch adding even more chaos to the frantically brutal piece. Another really killer track, excellent!
4. Hypothermic Expiry comes in with a killer drum fill and upbeat grooving riffs that follow on from the storming assaults of the other tracks gorgeously. The raw passion and worship of the true Extreme Metal spirit is so perfectly executed with an unpolished gem lurking in the depths of the underground. This track is a fantastic example of how well the scene is doing. A hammering and tormenting piece of total ferocity that was unpredictably volatile and decimating throughout. Also featuring another blistering little guitar solo, really wicked. Another crushing slab of Death Metal mayhem.
5. Slumber is the final piece of this EP. Starting with sampled howling winds that transcend into slower tempo, more melodic riffs and built in drums, this is a track adding diversity with a more laid back pace. The slowly churned out tremolo picked riffs and down beat drums sound so damn brutal, obliterating doomy atmospherics take the lead this time with monolithic riffs that are stunningly written. There is a menacing touch to the upbeat assaults from the band the is tormenting, brooding and fantastically punchy. A killer way to close this EP with all the aggression of the other songs but a gorgeous touch of atmosphere in parts. Wonderful!

This is some ridiculously heavy, gruesome and unnerving Death Metal. The raw production, grisly riffs, furious blast beats and gut-wrenching vocals make for a truly epic experience within a short time frame. A certain unpolished gem from US Death Metal underground. This was an incredibly solid release with a fantastic old school vibe to it! -8.5/10