Hævntørst

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this flexi now, but let’s just say that when the guys played Hævntørst last time I saw them live I pretty much knew the song by heart. As anyone who knows me, or is a frequent reader of my reviews, know I love Undergang’s debut album Indhentet af døden, and I’ve been looking forward to new material for a while now. Well, this isn’t new, and fact is it was recorded back in 2009 and originally released on a compilation tape that I haven’t come across. Luckily my main man Jesus of Me Saco Un Ojo hooked me up with this re-release of the tune, and it’s a rather neat-looking square flexi.

Like with all Undergang songs you feel an overpowering sensation of heaviness coming at you as soon as the needle strikes its target. Hævntørst starts off relatively slow in a chugging and pummeling pace, laced with a wicked guitar line, before moving on with a moment of mid-tempo. As the chorus is about to start they up the ante, but never really go for the blastbeat, and since the tune ends in an incredibly heavy and slow, doomy manner the guys pretty much go through the lot. But from start to finish it’s a real heavy hitter; the insanely brutal bass play, the catchy and killer guitar riffs, the low-end and gruffy growling, the nuanced drumming… Close to six minutes of arse-ripping brutality. Massively heavy, sinister, gloomy, doomy and murderous death metal.

Since it’s only one song it’s a bit difficult to judge and to write an elaborate review, simply ‘cause to really get an impression of a release a little more material is to be preferred. But then again I couldn’t care less, ‘cause Undergang is so freakin’ good I take what I can. Imagine a mixture of Winter, Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation and Autopsy, with a dose of classic old school death metal as well as old school goregrind, and you’re still none the wiser. This is one of those bands you’ve got to hear to believe (and understand) just how heavy and massive it really is. There’s a smart level of technicality, just as the knack for catchy riffing is impressive. It’s not often you should believe the hype, but Undergang is just as good as everyone say they are.

Originally written for My Last Chapter