ALBUM REVIEW: Reek – Death Is Something There Between

The debut album from Swedish Death Metal newcomers (at least this project, that features some seasoned veterans of death) is here. Set for release via Testimony Records on April 24th.

Cutting HM-2 riffs grind into life with upbeat punky drums and snarled vocals, taking things back to “Wolverine Blues” era Entombed with a killer array of savagely catchy riffs in the old school chainsaw fashion. Chugging out more rhythmic battery, the pacing of this album is gorgeously gruesome from the first few seconds and remain so throughout. Shredding guitars complete the mix with some cool solos while the main focus is definitely in the gritty riff barbarism that pounds out a d-beat, thrashing onslaught of pure Swedeath excellence.

This record is clearly not intended to be anything groundbreaking. What it is, however, is some of the most brilliant old school Swedish Death Metal worship you will hear if you prefer the more groovy, Death ‘n’ Roll style. Stupidly captivating hooks and monstrous tones, chunky bass and rhythms, hammered drums and relentless growls enshroud the meaty riffs to deliver us into a nostalgic slab of mighty morbidity. The fact that this is nothing new doesn’t really hold back my adoration for this style and the band clearly hit the goal of rekindling this sound so damned well that you will not care about its lack of originality.

With all of this said, the ideas are not at all lacking with marvellous riffs and musicianship in general from these veterans of Death Metal delivering a crushing blend of putrid grooves that will have every Swedeath fan headbanging to the ferocity of the d-beat mayhem. Throughout the album we just receive banger after banger of devastatingly great deathly Heavy Metal from the tombs of Sweden, lurking around every corner is something monstrously heavy. Punching in at nearly forty minutes, one could believe this album might drag a bit but these guys keep their ripping Death Metal concoctions plentifully interesting to hold your attention throughout.

As mentioned, I cannot say this is the most original stuff in the world but it shall leave you to rest in festering slime with its rotten riffs, dastardly drumming and vicious vocals for certain. If you are a lover of classic Swedeath, then this will bring back some glorious memories with a new tome of relentless material. If not, then this probably will not hit the spot. -7.5/10