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ROTTEN TOMB
The Relief Of Death

Death Division Rituals (2024)
Rating: 8/10

As with a majority of Chilean extreme metal bands, Rotten Tomb strips flesh with sophomore full-length effort, The Relief Of Death. The band have become somewhat stalwarts of the South American scene having been around since 2016, although it was only two years ago that their debut album emerged under the title Visions Of A Dismal Fate.

With The Relief Of Death Rotten Tomb continues its wave of ungodly death metal. The production on this is very crisp, although maybe I was expecting something murkier, but the instruments, particularly the bass, does benefit from the clear mix. Even so, this is still some seriously heavy death metal that is filtered through the bowels of the underworld led by the grisly voice of guitarist Deathbringer (Atomicide) who boasts a deep, bellowing style. His vocals really come to the fore on the slower, menacing passages such as on the monstrous ‘Oblivion’ where the guitars drip with fetid atmosphere.

Obviously the pace varies throughout as the band ups its gears into a colder climate which prompts the rats to scurry off into numerous directions. ‘In The Last Hours’ is my choice cut because it successfully showcases what I mean about how Rotten Tomb shifts from evil, doomy meandering to primitive pace. Although I admire the faster stuff on offer I’m such a sucker for those steadier, grinding examples of misery; ‘Let The Death Takes Us’ is that mid-tempo morbidity built upon from the percussive foundation of session drummer Skullfukk (Invincible Force / Ancient Crypts).

Just imagine such brutality with a coating of productive slime and this album would have been far better, but that’s not to say it isn’t a macabre opus. ‘Psychopathic World’ features some great swirling leads of doom and ‘Rumble For The Cult Of Death’ is so steady in its sombre meandering. The cruel vapours of humidity join with cold, eerie blasts throughout to result in a sorrowful mingling of Incantation and early Paradise Lost.

All light is extinguished and the walls close in within this Rotten Tomb; the soundtrack to your slow, impending death being your last hoarse gasps, the fading of your heartbeat and nine despairing tracks of horror.

Neil Arnold

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