HAEMOPHAGUS - Atrocious
August 9, 2014, 9 years ago
(Razorback Records)
Here's a fun slab of raw death from Italy's Haemophagus, who early on in this 13-song album raise an eyebrow or two by bringing Macabre to mind, a feat that is rarely attempted or accomplished. But it's done in the opening title track, then the band moves on to sounds that bring to mind the sewer raunch of Autopsy or some pre-melody Carcass. It's all a bit more death metal and less gore-grind than the name would have you believe, and it also has more class and skill to it than you might be expecting, too, as the maturity of a mellower cut like, um, 'Intro' proves. The artwork and silly song titles sell the band a bit short, as this is death done with some skill; personality may not be in the morgue, but, regardless, a good time awaits those who like it deathly, sludgey (crank up 'From The Sunken Citadel...' and feel the glorious pain), and grindy.
