I do love a bit of ‘proper’ Swedish death metal, and if you do too then Rogga Johansson (guitars / bass / vocals) will be a familiar name to you.
I mean the guy is busy….. and when I say busy I mean levels of productivity that rival Shane Embury & Dan Lilker. The man can’t sit still for 5 minutes without lending his talents to a project or twelve. The dude’s in at least 19 current bands FFS! (my faves are the cannibal obsessed ‘Bone Gnawer’, The Lovecraft themed ‘The Grotesquery’ & the Ed Warby helmed death / doom lords ‘The 11th Hour’).
That’s not to say I don’t like Ribspreader – quite the contrary – 2009’s ‘Opus Ribcage’ is a cracking album. Straightforward, well played, groovy, Swedish death metal. And so is this album……… but for some reason it doesn’t quite have the ‘groove’ of previous releases. Play ‘Dying Dead Decomposed’ from ‘..Ribcage’ after this record and you’ll see what I mean.
Anyway, Meathymns is Ribspreader‘s sixth full length release and every riff, every beat simply drips old school Swedish death metal authenticity, alternating between fast frantic thrashing bits and a few moments that sound more haunting with a doomy oppressive atmosphere, particularly the eerie title track that ends the album – reminds me of a soundtrack to a Fulci film.
‘Meathymns’ is a perfectly well-executed old school Swedish death metal record, but there’s nothing instantly memorable.
Honestly, don’t think I’m slagging it – I’m not. It’s a good record. This is not some hyper intellectualised ‘post’ metal bullshit (thank fuck) – this is sheer, honest, brutal Swedish death metal and if that’s your bag then you’ll like it – I promise. Just please Rogga – bring a bit of groove back in the next one.
(7/10 Mark Eve)
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