Following the reformation (2007) and dissolution (2012) of ancient Swedish death metal entity Nirvana 2002, two of its members found their creative impulses unspent. Minus previous band mate Orvar Säfström, bassist Lars Henriksson and drummer Erik Qvick decided to create a new monster of old school death. In doing so, it was first necessary for Erik to take on six-string as well as drumming duties, and then for the duo to locate a suitably brutal front-man. This, they found in Australian Mik Annetts. With a three track demo already under their belts (all recaptured here), and approval from the likes of Fenriz, surely ‘Under the Church’ will kick arse, right? Right!
The EP kicks off with a wall of ghostly screeching feedback before transforming into a hefty mid-pace jaunt. As the opener ‘Denial of Death’ progresses, Mik Annetts’ deep growls combine masterfully with each methodically shifting riff. And befitting the style of music, the rhythm section serves as a muscular accompaniment to all the acid distortion. Track two, ‘Macabre Cadaver’, sees more morbid swaggering riffs ooze forth like maggots from a decomposing trunk. It’s another largely tempered, grooving number save for the first bit of speed on the EP burning through the end part. A clear hallmark of this band is pulling effective riff variations such as this out of the repetitive dirge at just the right time to make things ever darker. Like a portent of what’s to come, it leads into the gradually accelerating pace of ‘Digging in the Dirt’ – which comes across like a zombified Motörhead. Thick, rotten guitars and relentless double bass pound away while Annett’s maw spews a continual stream of death breath and black blood all over the place.
Come title track ‘Under the Church’ and speed in the truest sense of the word tears out. Embellished with a few tortured squeals, the riffs here emerge less like oozing maggots and more like a chainsaw slamming through flesh and bone. An excellent tempo change around that brief unhinged solo particularly stands out, although the entirety of the title track is awesome. Elsewhere, ‘Burning’ is another pacey composition, this time dedicated to the dark lord. (No, not Cliff Richard…) Again what is striking is how to-the-point the material here is – especially considering all of the vivid textures on offer. The longest track of all is four-minute-long ‘Haunted by Demons’. Opening with some unavoidable swathes of doom and a hint of the blues, this one really showcases the rusted/serrated guitar tone as it chugs off into burning pastures. Last of all comes ‘Back to the Grave’. Melding more speed and textured riffs – along with a neat drum break – these closing tones are the type to inspire destruction of household furniture as you manically stomp around the living room.
As the press release emphasises, the entire EP sounds authentically early 90s (for obvious reasons) and not in the least bit contrived. Every grim atmosphere, gnarly groove and outbreak into speed is an extension of what these musicians were consummate at twenty-five years ago, and serves as proof that they haven’t lost their expertise. As a whole, ‘Under The Church’ is brilliant. However – and this is my only gripe – if they’d fleshed it out with two or three more bilious tracks, we would have been confronted with one hell of a debut album. As it is, bring on the full-length!
(9/10 Jamie)
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