Having released a two track demo in September 2022 the duo of Adam Watts and Tom Bradfield have quickly released their debut album with its seemingly curious title and equally curious, if a little disturbing, cover art. Both of the demo tracks have appeared on the album with the lead off song being one of them called ‘Bleeding Stump Marathon’, also having a curious title. There are few subtleties here, the intro sample by the UK duo leads into grisly guitar riffing and tin can snare work that shifts this release into grindcore territory but loaded with pulsing density. Ingrained into the opener is a sample just to add more menace and more disturbance as the band crafts groove infested riffs amongst its chaotic unhinged approach.

‘All Eyes On The Grave’ follows the opener with another sample before a double kick onslaught batters it aside to reveal disembowelling goregrind style vocals tied into some maniacal tones, ensuring the song has a homicidal stance but hooked into their sense of grooving mayhem. ‘Skull Crawler’ is demented, its ferocious unmitigated speed is linked to that groove again but here the song revels in sonic carnage before the title track‘s opening sample calms matters momentarily. Being of a more death metal slant the song plunges headfirst into miasmic riffing sludge with intermittent blast waves as the alternating harsh and deep vocals feel schizophrenic.

What can you say about a song titled ‘Bloated- Fly-Bitten- Dead’ as the short sample piece leads into more sludge filled terror where those alternating vocals hideously infect the track with that schizoid vibe even though it is generally slower overall, despite the periodic speed inserts. I do like a pinpoint sample to start a tune and ‘Briefcase Full Of Cutlery’ has one right before it detonates into rampant repugnancy as the deathgrind credentials rear up here like a gruesome Golem intent on snuffing your lights out.

I do love the titles on this album as ‘Pentangle Of Broken Teeth’ is one I really liked as the track sets about turning you to an amorphous intestinal mush with its groove infused grotesquery and copious deluges of speed. However it is the slower side of this bands song writing I preferred, their sense of melody is infectious as ‘Ubiquitous Gore’ proves after the sample. I am sure plenty of you will identify where those samples are coming from as the song unleashes a blood-storm of riffs before it closes with ‘Grandpa’s Hammer’. Yet another song with a curious title as the track offers a blur-fest with a fine sample before the goregrinding bedlam ensues and the pulverising concludes.

Deathgrind of the highest order from Heretic Plague, one brimming with grinding groove and saturated in a deathly demolition, the blend is awesome.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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https://hereticplague.bandcamp.com/album/context-is-a-stumbling-corpse