Virtually anything on the Godz Ov War roster is worth checking out especially if you like utter extremity and brutality. Information is rather scant on this Polish band having only dredged up that it is a solo project by a very talented guy called Mortt who has previously released an EP titled ‘Last Manifestation Of Life’ which I gave a listen to before delving into this debut full length. Quite clearly Mortt’s mission is to subject the listener to unwavering, harrowing, scornful and wholly blistering blackened death metal. Indeed, said EP laid the foundations perfectly for this album, with plenty of vocal theatrics that continue on the album which opens with the bludgeoning prowess of ‘Destructive Symphony Of Chaos’. Initially I was thinking about Bolt Thrower due to the cascading double kick that saturates the songs opening before it quickly sweeps into the blackened ferocity. Everything Mortt has done here is saturated in virulence, whether it is the unerring speed or those vocal histrionics which really stand out to make the songs that bit more dramatic and focused.

‘Robactwo’ follows with some groaning growling vocals spliced by intermittent blast beats as the song quickly shifts into its groove, and there is definitely plenty of that here and on the album generally. The density is excellent too, capturing the abyssal impenetrability that this genre has by the truckload. These first couple of tracks are probably the most death metal based on the album as ‘W Chwale Upadku’ displays the blackened malfeasance brilliantly. At only 30 minutes in duration every song is crammed with changes without sacrificing cohesion and momentum as the third track shows with its slower more atmospheric styling and slightly cleaner vocal style that I really liked.

‘The Cacophony Of Death’ does what you’d expect with a title like this, it explodes from the off and had me thinking about early Morbid Angel, Angelcorpse and Vital Remains due to the outright vitriol it delivers as the tune ducks and dives with its tempos and guitar hooks. ‘Boska Niedoskonałość’ is equally devastating, but possesses a creepy ghoulish aura as one thing I felt was lacking on the album was bass density, which isn’t say there isn’t any but in this scene I would prefer a bit more in the mix just to add to the album overall weight but it’s a minor point in the scheme of things.

‘Zemsta’ closes the release before a cover tune and like the preceding tunes it blasts in without ceremony but is laced with those slower more atmospheric phases Mortt generates so well. Again, the theatrical vocalisations add to the texture of tune as the speed variations change in waves with the song offering a very cool bridging section that leads into the savage finale. The album has a cover of Venom’s ‘Leave Me In Hell’ and whilst the core of the song is intact Mortt has crafted it to be as battering as possible without losing the original songs thrashing grooves and with excellent results.

A monstrous, insectile dismembering by Temple Of Decay, one that fans of this scene should absolutely be delving into.

(8.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://godzovwarproductions.bandcamp.com/album/rigor-mortis