From what I remember of this band’s debut album ‘Human Harvest’ they were a harsh rotten death metal band from Sweden. Go forward a mere two years, and these Swedes have earned their rotten death metal stripes. The sound is much clearer, and it is very low end brutal heavy, the old Boss HM2 Pedal sound…it’s glorious! Using Tormented’s studio is not such a bad thing, using themselves and Claes Holmberg (of Tormented) to mix and master the album has born rotten fruit, the band logo has even undergone some refinement too.
Compared to their debut ‘Human Harvest’, the drums and vocals have been superimposed, they are now a lot more audible, making it enjoyable right from the start with the opener ‘Flesh for Living’. The artwork depicts a bloody debauched satanic ritual, nice! Looking at the track titles, one would assume Intestinal are more of a brutal blast-beating gore-soaked death metal band, ‘Vaginal Vomitation’ anyone? Or maybe you would prefer to be ‘Gut Fucked’? Whatever floats your deranged mind, but you will gladly follow these chaps into every possible situation that presents itself. ‘To Die, To Rott’ is the definition of classic old school death metal, it has a true authentic but modern feel, meanwhile, the buzzsaw guitar riffing continues to tickle your fancy during the opening moments of the next track ‘Reborn in Gore’. This sound as I have already established is cool, the songs have meaning too. I don’t believe that this band or album will get lost in the mire of this genre, even when there are a few contenders matching Intestinal’s brutal talent, ‘The Rottening’ has its own level of staying power and individuality.
Intestinal capture the true essence of putrid death metal, they have an authentic sound and an authentic lyrical basis. ‘The Rottening’ will surely bring them into contention and conversation with fellow Swedes and peers such as Entrails, Miasmal and other glorious bands in this new generation of old school death metal magicians.
(7.5/10 Paul Maddison)
15/06/2012 at 8:48 am
That cover art should be scratch and sniff, great stuff!