Album Review: Putrescent – Darkness Embraced (Rotted Life)

Los Angeles death metal purveyors Putrescent are set to unleash their highly anticipated debut full-length album, ‘Darkness Embraced’, through Maryland’s own worm-infested Rotted Life. It will be available on CD and cassette on June 6th, with an LP release to follow on June 20th.

Emerging from the underground death metal scene with blackened fire in their souls, Putrescent’s debut album is the sound of sickening and brutal hostility. Where seven tracks (and an intro) hit with the force of several sledgehammers being swung at the soft parts of the body.

Putting it simply, Darkness Embraced is heavy, raw, and savage, and for those who enjoy their metal to come with a strong extreme flavour. Although that could also be the stink of decay, this album is pretty grim.

A melodic and atmospheric intro called Infinite Darkness does nothing to prepare the listener for the cacophony of noise that follows. Putrescent’s wicked approach and intense stance coming through strongly with the guttural horror of the title track, the nauseating Putrid Piles of Human Flesh, and the manic pulverising that is dished out by Sepulchral Desecration. Thick instrumentals meeting garish vocals, creating a symphony of disgust. Sounds fun, eh?

 

 

It’s death metal, bloody brutal, unrefined. There’s no surprises here, aside from the fact that Putrescent deliver their noise with mighty aplomb. Regardless of the lack of innovation here, they really do a great job of holding the listeners attention and making each new slab of vitriolic heaviness exciting to hear.

Most will want to listen on, and most will find themselves thoroughly entertained by what the second half of the record has to offer. Putrescent upping the tempo with a powerful blast of violent riffs and bone-crushing drums via Spectral Sanctum. Then brutalising the senses with a screaming guitar solo on Obscure Putrescent Growls of Death. Before wrapping up the album in ugly fashion with the doomy horror-laden epic that is Black Ceremony and the no-nonsense burst of ferociousness that Inhuman Infestation offers. Both are heavyweight hits of memorable death metal, proving once and for all that Putrescent are worth keeping an eye on.

Putrescent – Darkness Embraced Track Listing:

1. Infinite Darkness
2. Darkness Embraced
3. Putrid Piles of Human Flesh
4. Sepulchral Desecration
5. Spectral Sanctum
6. Obscure Putrescent Growls of Death
7. Black Ceremony
8. Inhuman Infestation

Links

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