Whilst the unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine has led to carte blanche xenophobia in some circles, I believe that shunning all things Russian does nothing to bridge the divisions sown by so-called “leaders”. I hope that the citizens of Russia are able to see through the lies peddled by Putin and his oppressive enablers, and also that they can find the inner strength to rid themselves and Europe of his anachronistic tyranny.

A relatively young band in the grand scheme of things, this Muscovite quintet released a lone demo track shortly after their inception in 2019. Polish label Godz Of War were suitably impressed enough to sign them, undoubtedly spurred on by individual members prowess in other bands such as Grond and Todestriebe. This release likely serves to whet the appetite of listeners, prior to a full-length release in the not-to-distant future.

Kadavereich dabble in the suffocating, murky death metal that fans of Ulcerate and latter day Gorguts may be familiar with, though eschewing the more technical elements of this style in exchange for dissonant blackened atmospherics. The EP opens with a siren call of horns before creeping guitars and percussion blow away any inkling of symphonic melodic leanings. The low register vocals are heavy on reverb, helping them achieve cavernous and threatening heights.

The four tracks here display a solid flair for extreme metal songwriting ability, from the deliberate, mid-paced Morbid Angel-esque riffage of “Invincible Sun Devourer”, through the swirling, brooding rage of “Caldarium Of Boiling Blood”, to the pummelling precision of “Dismal Radiance Of Doom”. Additionally, the performance of each of the musicians is remarkably tight and consistent throughout. As an opening statement of intent, this EP is a strong debut showing for Kadavereich. 

(7.5/10 Doogz)

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/radiance-of-doom