When an album – or an EP, as in this case – has been recorded at a great studio, the initial assumption is that the music is going to sound good. The studio in question with this release is Sweden’s Necromorbus – where some of that country’s great acts, including Watain, Desultory and Unanimated have all recorded. Unsurprisingly, ‘Reaper’s Consecration’ sounds very good. Similarly, when you press play and what spews forth is blatantly early 90s Swedish death metal, the obvious tendency is to clench your fists and prepare to start foaming at the mouth. Zombiefication’s death metal certainly has ‘Made in Sweden’ stamped all over it. I would draw some kind of comparison here to a piece of reliable Swedish IKEA furniture if their products weren’t all ‘Made in China’. Then again, maybe this allusion is actually quite fitting. Despite the outward signs all pointing toScandinaviain the case of this band, Zombiefication is in fact from…Mexico.
Unlike the ‘Swedish’-Chinese furniture, old school ‘Swedish’-Mexican death metal actually proves to be solid. Obviously the choice of studio has a great impact on this, but Zombiefication’s musical goal is to bludgeon like it’s Stockholm, 1991. Foremost among the influences for this central American duo seems to be early Grave, Entombed and Dismember. In the vocals, there’s a real ‘Clandestine’ meets Matti Kärki feel, which does the business. ‘Dead Today, Dust Tomorrow’ begins the EP with a haunting, funereal guitar intro before a giant “Wuuurrrrgghhhh!!!!” and crunching riff barge in from nowhere. The classic sound is all in evidence: kick drums with the force of bricks; face-ripping riffs and bass; chilling lead work interspersed with melody and drunken Neanderthal roars. The tempo chops and changes, allowing for a dynamic feast of all that is so awesome about early 90s Swedish death metal. Other influences are apparent though. ‘Necrohell’ for instance, has a slightly morbid feel of Autopsy going for it – to the extent that the vocals appear to resemble Chris Reifert – and in general, the fretwork also reminds a bit of Unanimated’s first two albums.
What makes Zombiefication a particularly interesting old school ‘tribute act’ is the ability to slow down and combine atmosphere with punk-like fury as the masters used to. ‘We Stand Alone’ is indicative of this, as is the closing, title track which charges like a herd of demented bovine over your cranium. This band’s appreciation and understanding of Swedish death metal is spot-on. With the disappearance of the mighty Dismember, it’s pleasant to come across a band like this, who does something comparable, with an eye for detail, unbound enthusiasm and a great production. I’m just staggered that such a great sounding ‘Swedish’ band is Mexican. Full marks to them for pulling it off. If you’re still not convinced, I suggest checking out track two from this EP, the bouncy, human crumpling ‘Death Rides’. Enjoyable stuff indeed!
(7.5/10 Jamie Wilson)
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