ALBUM REVIEW: Disrupted – Pure Death

Swedish Death Metallers DISRUPTED are back with their second album of monstrous ferocity. Out on October 9th via De:Nihil Records (vinyl) and October 26th via Memento Mori Records (CD).

A ferocious churning of HM-2 chainsaw madness kicks us right into bellowing Death Metal magnificence before d-beat drums hammer us into the ground with a rotten landslide of pure Swedeath. Hideous vocals join the spewing instrumentals with a nasty roar of aggression, delivering us into a truly morbid soundscape offered by the whole band. The upbeat swing of the record is contagious from very early on with ripping guitars and crushing drums delving into macabre realms of putridity with the mighty force of all the Swedeath classics clearly playing a huge part in influencing this rotten death machine. Aside from a rancid cacophony of rhythmic battery we are treated to some killer shred-craft that blisters through the bubbling pot of malicious riffing gloriously.

Balancing some doomy sections, d-beat pulverisation and full-throttle assaults with stunningly Entombed-esque Death ‘n’ Roll works favourably to conjure a diverse tempest of malignant sounds that are as infested with catchiness as they are devastatingly brutal. Belching with ferociously grotesque ideas that are conveyed wonderfully, this album is a monolith of monstrous obliteration that will surely infect the hearts of all Swedeath lovers with Pure Death as the punishing riff-fest blunders across a tight drum performance with vocals that would make LG Petrov proud completing the mix. Woodcvtter Illustrations’ artwork summarises that sound perfectly, this is minimalist and rather typical Swedeath at first glance/listen but with so much detailing and nuance for the real maniacs who will pay closer attention.

As I have mentioned before when reviewing this kind of chainsaw-heavy Death Metal, many bands rely to heavily on tone and this allows sub-par songwriting to infect the music. Disrupted do not fall into this trap with a truly impeccable riff artillery, highly talented drummer and savage vocalist who do the HM-2 Death Metal style proud with a totally repulsive slab of grave grooves being dropped on us without mercy. Convulsing through track after track of putrescent rippers, there is never a dull moment, even if some riffs and beats may be predictable, who cares when they hit this damn hard? As well as phenomenal songwriting, musicianship and a beautifully grotesque album cover to attract the eye, the production on this thing is absolutely titanic, without which such a powerful sound may fall flat on its face, but thankfully does not.

This second album is exactly what Swedeath should be offering. Malignant chainsaw riffs, d-beats and blastbeats in perfect harmony, doomy macabre eeriness and vitriolic vocals with enough instrumental diversity to keep things moving through the cemetery. Taking a classic sound, breathing new life and energy into it and nailing the overall feel of the record, this is essential 2020 Swedeath. -8.5/10