REANIMATED CORPSES - DEATH METAL IN THE 21st CENTURY

DEATH METAL, a genre characterised by raw aggression, filth-ridden production and savage vocals that spit forth tales of murder and the occult, is one that has arguably shaped extreme music more than any other. Are we to be deceived that this dark form of art died as ear expanders came into fashion and bands started producing merchandise on lo-cut tops, the kind of which would be welcomed spectacularly in most spicy nightclubs? I for one refuse to believe that death metal collapsed with the demise of Morbid Angel after Covenant or as Deicide became absolutely ridiculous. The truth is that the underground will never die, nor does it rest, it simply waits to be found...

MISTRESS - IN DISGUST WE TRUST (2005)

The first of my deadly modern trio hail from Birmingham in England and are definitely a band that have escaped the radar of most death-heads the world over. The now defunct Mistress play a primitive style of death metal, a term which I use with the greatest of respect to describe their crushing variation between mid paced groove, grinding speed and sludgy doom passages. With lyrics more blue than a dead blue-tit ("Fucking Fuck" anyone?), Dave Cunt (Dave Hunt also of Benediction and Anaal Nathrakh) ferociously splutters forth venomous bile about his hatred for mankind, with equal amounts of intellect and vulgarity being present in his now iconic vocal tones. This album provides a modern take on the genre yet remains firmly rooted in the grindcore crossover style of old school bands like Repulsion, and never feels sterile as each track is diverse enough to always maintain interest. No more so is this evident than in the song "Static", which incorporates an eerily melodic and catchy chorus amongst the chaos of sickening sludge. The rumbling of the bass guitar is positively filthy  and this aids the pounding groove superbly. Mistress are surely one of the forgotten gems of not only the UKDM scene, but within DM in general - Highly recommended for fans of Benediction, Repulsion, Fukpig, Iron Monkey, Entombed and Autopsy.

DEATH BREATH - STINKING UP THE NIGHT (2006)

It is often argued that one should not judge a book by it's cover, and it seems as though this logic should also be naturally applied to albums also, but for "Stinking Up The Night" by Sweden's Death Breath (ex Entombed) an exception should surely be made. This album contains 10 perfect slices of raw, punked up and almost rocky death metal that isn't afraid to include some enticing melodies, with the opener "Death Breath" conjuring a sense of the most deathly foreboding imaginable, before a rocking riff enters the audible fray. Death Breath take no prisoners when it comes to their vicious onslaught upon the ear and journey between thrashy death metal riffage and all out crushing doom raids with ease and great success. Lyrical subjects are light hearted and a welcome relief from all of the mindless porn/gore subjects associated with the genre nowadays- who can fail to crack open a sly smile when Pehrsson screams chilling warnings to those with horrific dental hygiene, or gives a dark prophecy of the "flabby little things from beyond"? With this album's relentless musical intensity, Death Breath have created one of the most stunning releases of the 00's so far, so if bands like Possessed, Celtic Frost, Repulsion and Autopsy are your kind of thing, prepare to fully immerse yourself in this foul creation of emphatic decay and rot.

VANHELGD - CHURCH OF DEATH (2011)

The final members of this unholy union also haunt the cold air of Sweden, but take a far more serious approach to the art of music extreme than their compatriots Death Breath. Vanhelgd have emerged from the blackened mist of ambiguity as genuine contenders in the modern scene, with their latest album "Church of Death". The vocals are hysterical, the rhythms versatile and powerful, the production is thick, and the guitar tone possesses a violent buzz in this destructive whirlwind of death, doom and blackened styles. Melancholic harmonies bind themselves to the heaviness of the thunderously held chords, and their ominous presence throughout this release marks this album out as a kind of sinister brother to more conservative death metal bands. Blistering pace gives way to crushingly slow sections, and it is precisely this depth to the release that makes it so successful. It would be easy for a band to continue to rehash the same old tried and tested formula, however well it may work (some bands have built their career on it and power to them), but this is not the way of Vanhelgd, who even go as far as to incorporate folk style influences into their work on this album - A raw attack of increasingly rare originality. Recommended for fans of Entombed, Watain, Autopsy and Unleashed, as well as anyone who likes their death metal like they like their coffee. BLACK.

/L