Like a death metal Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Matt Harvey has unleashed total Twisted Horror upon the unsuspecting public. Side A includes three blood drenched rippers from the gods of gore we all know and love, Exhumed. Side B features a double dose of Death inspired death from Gruesome. Both bands share the same frontman, though celebrate different trajectories within the death metal realm.
If you’ve been a fan of Exhumed for the last 30 years, there’s no reason why you wouldn’t like their contribution to this split. “Rot Your Brain”, “Buried to Die”, and “Dead, Deader, Deadest” boast those classic Exhumed trademarks: neck snapping blast beats, unrelenting riffs, and a healthy dose of gore. While all three rule on their own, “Rot Your Brain” is my prize pick. On top of everything I listed, it features as memorable a chorus a death metal song could have and a brutal breakdown halfway through. It’s knuckle dragging insanity!
Ever wondered what Death would sound like had they stuck to the sound of their first three albums? Look no further than Gruesome’s “A Mind Decayed” and “Led Into the Dark”. Harvey and company go for the throat with leprosy ridden death thrash like it’s 1988. Of the two tracks, “Led Into the Dark” is my favorite. It even has a touch of Autopsy in the riffs. Although considering Autopsy evolved out of Death, this isn’t surprising.
So there you have it: five displays of death bound to satisfy maniacs young and old. Play this one loud or forever feel the wrath of Dr. Philthy’s chainsaw!
6 out of 10
Label: Relapse Records
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Carcass, Death, Autopsy