Rotting

Quake with fear, mortal fools. Wagner and Co. are back with a vengeance.

Rotting was released in 1989, so this is getting to just about the pinnacle of death/black metal. By this time genres such as thrash were well established and death metal, grindcore, and black metal were on the rise. Sarcofago had made a name for themselves two years before with INRI, perhaps the most influential album in the extreme realm of music at the time (Napalm Death's Scum and Bathory's Under the Sign of the Black Mark are just as extreme for 1987, I'd say). What was considered extreme by Possessed, Sepultura, Slayer, Death, Dark Angel, and Bathory's standards paled compared to INRI. In my opinion, Sarcofago get a gold medal here for pushing the extreme boundaries of metal music for the era. What came next, I believe, is the pinnacle of their career.

This album seems to be Sarcofago's most underrated release from the early days since Wagner only referred to it as an EP and was chronologically released between their most legendary occult/Satanic era (INRI) and more tech death metal era (Laws of Scourge), but staying true to their image and the music, it holds up extremely well against INRI. I mean, come on. Listening back to INRI, if you look at just that album and its message. How could you top that? Well, Wagner does it right here on this spawn of an album. This album musically, ideologically, and even visually is more mature than INRI with its over the top speed, production, blasphemous LP art, and overall messages in the music. The shock value is just as apparent if not exacerbated on this release. The outrageous sexual and anti-Christianity/agnostic themes are still in full force, but still retain some of the Satanic vibe as seen with the inclusion of Nightmare from INRI. Be warned, this album is not at all for the feint of heart.

The overall feel of the music is extremely sinister and is perhaps one of the most intense experiences I have ever felt listening to an album. Compared to death metal and black metal music I had heard prior to this, it just did not compare. There is something inherently evil about Rotting that makes it so goddamn heavy. The atmosphere is completely hellish and morbidly captured in every song. It is a combination of the ghastly sonics, intense rhythms, choice of chords, and tortured screams of Wagner that really make this album come together. Some of the screams on Tracy at 2:39, 4:49, and 5:17 and Alcoholic Coma at 3:23 literally sent frightening shivers down my spine after the first time hearing them. The middle and ending of Alcoholic Coma that simulates a comatose patient are eerie, too. The album just reeks of blasphemy, decay, and a heavily polemic stance toward mainstream beliefs/religions.

Production-wise, the guitar sound is similar to Morbid's December Moon demo or Kreator's Terrible Certainty album, however it sounds more organic and definitely more heavy. A very crunchy tone. Who knew Wagner was such an accomplished guitarist? The riffing is crisp and fucking fast. The beginning of Alcoholic Coma and some of the ending Tracy riffs are played so incredibly fast you have to listen to them to hear what I mean. Solos by Wagner are less technical that what is laid down on Laws of Scourge, but get the point across and suit the music well. The bass is nice and clear as well, perfectly layering the horrific distortion and relentless drumming from Joker. Session drummer Joker really shines here, playing more technically sound than D.D. Crazy. His blast beats in every song are some of the fastest and intense blast beats I've heard in extreme metal. During the fast parts in Tracy and Rotting it's hard to believe a human being is hitting those drums that hard and not faltering under the duress of the tempo. Absolutely fucking insane. The production on the drums is top notch by Gaugin; they are piercing and just sound huge in the mix. There's good reverb (as opposed to bad reverb) on all the instruments and is occasionally added to Wagner's voice for more dramatic effect. Wouldn't have it any other way.

The compositions on Rotting can be best described as epic, transcending most extreme metal in its day. The damning, haunting feeling of many of the songs hold up extremely well against other efforts in 1989. If Altars of Madness didn't exist, I'd call this the most important death metal album of 1989. The lyrics are foreboding, often frightening or flat out hedonistic and complement the heaviness and intensity.

We start with the intro, The Lust. Simply put, it's an orgy of moaning females and a few monstrous demon voices thrown in. The track is just over the top Satanic sexuality at its best. The track segues well into the grisly intro riff to Alcoholic Coma.

Alcoholic Coma begins and, boy, once that riff comes in, it is a quantum leap from INRI. The band explodes into a blasting frenzy right off the bat with Wagner leading the charge with a supremely razor sharp tone and technical riffs played at breakneck speeds. It does not take a genius to realize just a few seconds in that this just flat out kicks ass. After a few riffs there is a middle section where Wagner simulates a patient in a hospital bed breathing his final breaths before he meets his nightmarish fate from alcohol consumption. A slow, doomy section follows and returns to its high velocity beginnings. The song like many on this album is a pure avalanche of riffing and blasting madness. What a way to start off the album. Wagner's voice is also incredibly harsh and the sheer intensity never lets up.

Up next we have Tracy. Tracy tells the sick, frightening story of a young woman fallen victim to an untimely fate by her sadistic, necrophile lover. The lyrics of the song are sufficiently evil and are bound to strike bouts of anxiety upon listens. Wagner's screams sound absolutely horrific and powerful. Simulating his power and sadism over his now dead female victim, it creates a ghastly image in the listener's mind over the heinous sexual pleasures that are about to transpire. The screams in the middle of the song, "Tracy......I love you........" are some of the most evil vocals I have ever heard in a metal song. Musically the track builds and builds upon the galloping verse riff until it reaches a more sinister feel in the middle section, where the band alternates in between harmonic dissonant punches and unrelenting blasts. All of the riffs in the song are EXTREMELY heavy and are so epic. Time changes, horrific lyrics, tons of blast beats, layered riff after riff, and demonic screams make this a sheer epic on the EP. Definitely a favorite of mine.

Rotting is the pure diatribe of the album. Lyrically it is a return to the polemic stance Sarcofago is known for. The structure of the song is very similar to Tracy, although it is way more doomy riff-wise. The first half of the song is slow then erupts into a blast beat manifesto. As usual the riffing is so goddamn heavy and fits the overall feel of the album. The whole song, especially the choruses are dreadfully morbid and dripping with hate. Great complement to the album cover too.

Sex, Drinks, & Metal is a nice a 3 minute scorcher, shouting praise of well.......SEX, DRINKS, AND FUCKING METAL! I guess you could call this the most "normal" song on Rotting. It has, per usual fast dissonant riffs, hyper blasts, and cool odes to the lifestyle all metalheads should adhere to. Just a good fun song from the album. Not so epic song-wise, but the message is fuckin what it's all about!

Lastly, we have a return to the INRI days with a revamped Rotting version of Nightmare. The improved production and tightness of the band really makes this song burst with energy. The synth work from Eugenio "Dead Zone" is also really great on this one. The riffage is more clear but the overall feel is definitely different this time around. Gone are the primitive Neanderthal hammer blasts of DD Crazy, but Joker's blasts are just as crushing and show a more mature approach to the epic song. As usual, the song has got a more hideous feel to it and is the perfect way to round out this extraordinary release from Sarcofago.

I cannot stress how much this album is the best in Sarcofago's discography. For the time this was released, it was one of the heaviest albums in its day and is definitely one of the fastest. I think the band's penchant for going over the top is further highlighted by the epic nature of the song structures in addition to their image and message presented on the release. The downright insane riffage, blasts, and screams on Rotting show Sarcofago at their angriest and is a manifesto against all that is holy. Wagner's precision in the guitar work is of note too. It amazes me how he does not lose time or miss any notes while playing the jagged riffs in the songs. A benchmark for all death metal in its day and a good middle ground in-between INRI and Laws of Scourge.

Get your hands on Rotting if you love the utmost extreme death metal in the old school era. This album definitely pushes the boundaries of the aspects of extreme metal and is a very unique album with a very unique sound. Once again, this is not at all for casual death metal listeners or trendy pussies. Only for those who are licensed to......SEX, DRINKS, AND METAL!!!!!!!!