Four-piece deathmongers Paganizer seem to have been around for eternity and whilst the band has existed under this moniker since about 1999 it feels like they have been around since death metal emerged in the mid-80s. However, one thing is for certain Rogga and his cohort of death dealers have released a myriad of releases, 35 so far and that doesn’t include compilations of which there are 12 of them on top as this 12th full length continues the total consistency offered by the Swedes. The band has stuck with Transcending Obscurity whose products I feel often blow its competitors out of the water with their quality and diversity, just take a look at what is offered for this release and you’ll see what I mean.

Armed with another slab of fabulous cover art, like all Paganizer albums seem to have, this latest effort is stacked with new ideas and new riffs but most of all a complete and utter bludgeoning that we expect. Aggressive and assailing without remorse opener ‘Down The Path Of Decay’ is straight in, no intro, no weaning you in, no subtleties it is obliterating in its power which is always what you expect from Paganizer. The band has always had a penchant for the crust riff here and there and this is no different and despite the sound having what I deem as a slightly cleaner aura the inevitable demolition that ensues is destructive.

‘Meatpacker’ is slightly slower relative to other songs here, but no less crushingly submersing with its dense like dread and gutter crawling filth. Similarly with ‘Sleepwalker’ the listener is entombed in guttural filth, its brutal nihilistic offensive typifies why Paganizer are so good at this type of music. ‘Raving Rhymes Of Rot’ is excellent, the slower pounding groove is brilliantly catchy, as is the title track with its super heavy annihilation balanced by very tuneful guitar work to really latch on to.

With its stomping beat, ‘Menschenfresser’, which literally translates as Man-Eater or maybe Cannibal, offering superb riff breaks and a blasted speed which the band often deploys for maximum carnage on an album brimming with sonic carnage. ‘You Are What You Devour’ is maybe a tad more atmospheric than other songs here but you always know that the trademark Paganizer pulverising is just around the corner and it dutifully arrives. The closer has a guest in the form of Karl Willets who is credited as “of Bolt Thrower” who we know do not exist any longer so probably more accurate to say of Memoriam but you know exactly what he is going to offer. His unique tone fits Paganizer’s music with ease blending in brilliantly with the closer’s unfettered steamrollering. There isn’t much else to say about ‘Beyond The Macabre’ except it is extremely good death metal, one that old school fans are sure to enjoy, I absolutely did.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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https://paganizer.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-macabre-death-metal