There have been plenty of bands that have used the Four Horsemen Of The Apocalypse as the staging for their sonic annihilation as this Portuguese outfit has four songs for the four horsemen with each having a different vocalist to produce a varied EP that matches the subject matter with ease. The buzzing of flies signifies the start of “Pestilence” where a seismic shift is witnessed when the song crashes in. The bass is utterly asphyxiating as the vocals are handled by Guilherme Henriques (Oak) whose tone is one of the deepest most terrifying voices you’ll ever hear in death metal. The density is truly is oppressive and whilst not ravenously fast the heaviness is monumental. The crawling and slithering savagery is palpable as the intensity of the song has a choking ethos that links into “War” cohesively. The blasted start is quickly swapped for the massive pulverising density as the double bass has one of the most gargantuan sounds I’ve heard in a long time. The very cool double kick rhythm produces a catchiness that will surprise you despite the unerring power of the songs heaviness enhanced by the barbaric vocals of Sérgio Afonso (Bleeding Gods).
Another eerie start unfolds on “Death” where a semi acoustic opening is obliterated for the raging blast beat that yields for the rolling kick drum annihilation, but here the vocals take on a clean tone, almost pagan like; the difference is stark but works to add considerable deepness and character to the song leaving “Famine” to close the EP. Again we get a slow pervading tempo reeking of musty sarcophagus dust as it quickly degenerates into an amorphous malignant coagulum comprising of the guttural vocals of Diogo Santana (Analepsy). The song is pounding from start to finish but peppered with subtle guitar hooks as the song delves into its own kind of malevolence courtesy of the sweeping pace changes but at the core of this monstrous EP is a pernicious beating gruesome heart where every song feels like the end of the world is about to thrust forth. Staggering, monstrous and utterly devastating release.
(9/10 Martin Harris)
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