Mr Rogga Johansson, and his grisly cohort, kicks off his account for 2021 with the second album under the Stass moniker that once again sees him collaborating with Felix Stass (vocals) of Germany’s Crematory, incorporating his considerable vocal dexterity alongside his equally formidable song writing skills. If you’re familiar with the debut ‘The Darkside’ from 2017 and enjoyed it then you’ll continue to do so with these eleven songs that sees the album take a dip into a slightly heavier realm retaining the doom-death elements in conjunction with the melodic overtones that permeate throughout.

There is a deft quality to this album that was evident on the debut but far more focused here, with songs that veer from outright brutality to more pristine melodicism courtesy of the excellent guitar work. The sound is typically Swedish with that buzzsaw grit and gnarly attitude that drills into every song as the album kicks off with ‘Dreams Of Rotting Flesh’; a subject I always have dreams about! Complementing the chain-sawing guitar sound are Felix’s vocals which reverberate through every song though on this album there are no clean vocal elements which if truth be told I’m thankful for as they didn’t work on the debut.

‘Forest Of Bony Fingers’ follows the opener with Swedeath domination that you heard nearly three decades ago but ramped up in intensity and clarity. The riffing here is infectious linking neatly with the fine riff break and neat drum fill insertions to create a catchy tune that cements into your head. There are atmospheric touches on ‘Beneath A Darkened Moon’ all the while the tune is boring deep into the brain with its driving deathliness. ‘I Work At Night’ is a grinder, in the sense that it initially unleashes a potent riff with a slow pace demolition in true old school style before the predicted pace escalation.

I did enjoy how ‘Fear Of The Living Dead’ starts with its cymbal emphasis and double kick rolls that has an inkling of death ‘n’ roll to some degree, before delivering a cool melodic mid-section and fine lead break. There are chunks of Entombed in places adding substantial groove and even a touch of sleaze to ‘Skin That Peels Away’ where the tuneful hook adornment really catches the ear. Likewise with ‘The Skeletons Are Ready’ which unveils some fine double kick patterns that add a modern vibe before the track nosedives into doom-death slithering. The impact and momentum is excellent as the tempo dynamics and atmosphere prove before you’re decapitated by ‘Hatchet Lover’. Offering a much faster tune enhances the impetus by wielding a purer death metal onslaught as the album concludes with the outro piece ‘The Revenge Of The Bog (Sounds Of Terror II)’. This piece is akin to horror movie backing music, that sense of build-up to a terrifying moment and if I’m honest it didn’t add anything to the album and might have been better as the intro instead.

However fans of melodic doom-death should gorge on this sophomore as it is saturated with quirky riffing and immersed in a vat of dense gruesomeness.

(8/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/stassband

https://emanzipation.bandcamp.com/album/songs-of-flesh-and-decay