ALBUM REVIEW: Goregäng – Neon Graves

Here I review the debut full length from crusty Death Metallers GOREGӒNG, following only a single EP. This heavily anticipated album is set for release in May on Transcending Obscurity Records.

1. A Cavity In Reality opens with brooding guitar riffs that sound incredibly doomy, kicking in some drums among the spaced out atmospherics. Soaring lead guitars and punchy kicks drive this introduction into a primal setting for the album to begin, including some eerie whispering. A great way to start.
2. False Flag blasts us in with growling rhythms, plucked lead work and upbeat drums, driving into some insanely catchy grooves that are instantly gripping and memorable. Hideously growled vocals are spewed over the chugging, maniacal riffs and blast beats with total precision and a disgustingly dirty crust influence on the sounds. Churning out Death Metal hatred with chaotic violence intact, this convulsive track is a fantastic introduction to the whole band, bringing the noise with full aggression.
3. Cathedral Of Chemicals falls into place with a couple of snare hits followed by grooving, menacing riffs. The slower tempo really builds tension for the dismally dark piece. Shortly after the track blasts into frenzied assaults with whiplash headbanging being a requirement. There is so much ferocity in the skull-crushing attack of the music that is unrelenting and gloriously performed while keeping things fairly simple. Another wicked track.
4. Silence Is Consent picks things up with thrashing guitars and drums that pound away heavily. The brutal music is not only fast but tight with excellent production and some nice “Swedeath” style guitar work that is totally epic. So much energy and livelihood is thrown into this meaty music that rips through layers of fleshy Death Metal intensity. Punk rhythms really do offer a lot to the sound of the band which is cavernously demonic and totally in your face.
5. Spray Of Teeth chugs into slower tempo grinds once more, the gruesomeness of the guitar tone and hammering drums have such strength. This is topped by some Necrophagia styled vocals that are so hellishly heavy. Full speed thrashing mayhem quickly ensues with no holds barred. I really liked the sheer attitude this track had, middle fingers up and killer extremities being unleashed. Wonderful stuff!
6. Feeble-Minded Rash sets off with some glorious drumming then dropping in fully invasive guitar riffs that blisteringly grind over the drums along with the gnarly vocals. There is a truly chaotic feeling to the song despite its incredible production. The meandering piece offers so much in the way of catchy hooks from the riffs and punchiness, it seems to waltz through such ferocious musicianship and vocals, fantastic.
7. Neon Graves launches more doomy atmosphere at us with melody and a much more slow-paced tempo. Cavernous walls of guitar and simplistic cymbal hits really build up the monolithic sound of the beginning. Dropping into laid back and far more melodic material before chugging out more churning and macabre grooves, this piece really has a very different sound to the others up until this point. While more melodic it remains just as decimating with walls of instrumental attack and howled vocals. Totally ferocious, utterly brilliant.
8. Plague Of Hammers utilises sampling, very well too. An interesting start that is met with more crashing drums and drawn out guitars. Like the last song, this one has a quite atmospheric start that quickly builds in strength and aggression to make a volatile and menacing piece of gory madness. There is a real catchiness to the grisly vocals over flowing guitars. More upbeat sections have impactful drums and some excellent riffing. A punishing piece.
9. Goregäng completely contradicts the last couple of tracks, ditching atmosphere for a much more punk influence piece, a really interesting choice. The ferocity and attitude mixed with the extreme sound of Metal sounds absolutely crushing with so much upbeat energy to the music. Slightly anthemic in nature, something that is hard to do in Death Metal but they will it off well. This track also has some of the most intense drumming too. Brutal!
10. Weightless Sentinels follows up with faded out drums and bass that bring the song in beautifully to menacing assaults once more. Total speed and crushing riffs, coated in gut-wrenching vocals and punctuated by slamming drums makes this short piece concisely aggressive and it packs a punch like a sledgehammer. There is a real darkness to the song that I really enjoyed as well.
11. Putrid Judgement is doomy, the drawn out guitars that sound devastating along with the slower drums and odious vocals seemingly stroll through a dungeon of old school Death Metal brutality that is suddenly launched into overdrive. Breakneck riffs, punishing drums and more vomited vocals add to the death-march pace of the track that just storms along, perfect to headbang with. Thunderous bass guitar was the final component that really drove the nail of this track into the skull nicely. Solid material.
12. This Era Of Human closes the album. Starting off with some glorious drumming and stunning bass grooves that are quickly joined by thrashy riffs and screamed vocals, this is going to be one last slice of violence. The really punchy chugging track just hits so hard with upbeat sections followed by totally frenzied, grinding old school Death Metal attack. There is some technicality that adds to the brilliant sound of the band and some blistering lead guitar work, something the band certainly have not overused. The dissipation of the track and rebuilding into menacing breakdowns is a wicked touch and does not feel like they just took the easy road, like a lot of breakdowns in Metal. Following a breakdown with Death-Doom sections is a bold but terrifically good move from the band. A fantastic closing song!

This release is some classic Death Metal, featuring the old school nastiness, more modern crushing production and also some light melodic touches. Blended together smoothly, the crusty extremity of this band is certainly worth a listen for fans of Morbid Angel, Necrophagia, Bloodbath and other similar artists! -8/10