Indhentet af døden

Some people say the well of old-school death metal is dry. Don't listen to them: It's like an ever flowing stream. (I love puns.)

Denmark's Undergang released their debut Indhentet af Døden ("overtaken by death") last year to no fanfare. Perhaps that's because it was first released on a 100 cassette run, and then only on a vinyl run of 500. It has finally been brought out on CD, and it's sure to be noticed.

Why? What sets it apart from the dozens (or hundreds) of other OSDM releases coming out this year? Well, the most obvious distinction is that the lyrics are in their native Danish. That would be just about enough to get me on board right there. But more importantly, their musical approach is distinct.

Undergang's album can succinctly be described as Obituary twisted by Demilich. The sound is classic Obituary, with ultra-deep death growls over a mostly mid-paced death metal crush. The bass guitar gives it a strong backbone. All that is mixed up with some weird Demilich riffs and time signature changes--just enough to keep it unexpected, but not enough to turn off those who don't like their music weird.

The Verdict: This is one of my favorite OSDM releases I've heard this year.

originally written for http://fullmetalattorney.blogspot.com/

Oh, how I’ve been looking forward to this one. Ever since I first heard a couple of samples from a demo session a year ago I knew Undergang would become a force to be reckoned with. I saw them live and was even more convinced of their competence and skill to deliver powerful brutality of an extreme magnitude. It feels like it’s taken forever, but it’s finally here. It’s easy to build a hype, it’s easy to get too high expectations in anticipation of what you think will be mesmerizing. But trust me when I say "Indhentet af døden" is just as good as I could ever have hoped for.

The sound is incredibly dense. Production-wise it’s not much to really decipher since the sound is so incredibly heavy and dense, but it contains such a rugged crudeness as it lacks any kind of crystal clear digital cleanliness of modern day metal. The serious churning and pummeling of the bass is almost overwhelming, and it’s been a long time since I last heard a record with such emphasis on that particular instrument. I love the way they let the bass play an important role in their music, and the heaviness of it is increased to a marvelous magnitude. But before any of this kicks in we’re offered a schizoid and eerie piano intro that fits so well into the aesthetics of the album. And then the rumbling commences.

The old school death metal influence is very present, just as I sense a dose of old school goregrind as well. It’s blended to create a very rotten sound, oozing of gore and brutality. Minor, technical guitar quirks are mixed with a pure onslaught of fast riffing; overwhelmingly groovy. And the groove is emphasized by the doom parts thrown in every now and then, and just as fitting of a name drop as Autopsy, Impetigo and Carcass would be, the major denomination would probably be Winter for that groovy sensation of doom flirtation. But I also feel a slight touch of Sewn Shut, or maybe it’s just the unrelenting heavy grinding that the two acts have in common. Fast hammering comes at you like a stampeding horde of elephants, but as soon as the horde reaches you it turns into a bulldozer, slowly rolling over your corpse; turning it into a bloody mess. I can’t even begin to describe how heavy-as-hell this is.

The doom is best represented by "Tvangstanker", which opens up with a major dose of slow churning riffage, masterful drum beats and with one hell of a groove to it. Afterwards it moves on to a more death metal based track, while still retaining that incredible sense of doom. The acoustic tune, "De dødes passage", adds a magnificently angstfilled touch, and once again it fits in oh-so-well with the aesthetics. Lyrically it’s dark and ominous tales of child murder, death, pain, torment and suffering. But what makes this stand out from the crowd is the fact that it’s in Danish, which gives it an even greater genuine sense of a stark, haunting atmosphere. And with the incredibly low-end grunts the brutality is at an all time high. Vocally it’s very monotonous since it’s nothing but these grunts, but with the powerful voice he commands I don’t see how anyone could possibly have anything to complain about.

It feels like I could go on and on forever giving this album praise, but my vocabulary isn’t equipped with an endless supply of adjectives and nouns. So you’ll just have to take my word for it when I say this is a gem of the underground, and if you have any pride or sense of shame in your god forsaken shrivel of a body you’ll be wise to pick this up before it’s sold out. Although to be released on CD by Extreem Music later this year, such a masterpiece is to be enjoyed on vinyl for full effect. Undergang absolutely blows me away with this onslaught of heaviness, and they’ve managed to create something so mystic, stark and powerful that I dare say I haven’t heard the likes in years. It was a long time ago since I was so awe-struck by a band, and if they keep this up I’m gonna have to build and dedicate a shrine to their Danish honour.

Originally written for http://www.mylastchapter.net

A lot of hype is made about bands today . Some of the hype is justified , some just isn't . The build up buzz about this band has been overwhelming to put it bluntly . Denmarks "Undergang" is the sickest straight up death metal band to come out in what seems like forever . This is exactly why......

The guitar tone is heavy as fuck . How heavy is fuck you ask ? Fuck is the equivalent of a 747 airliner jet getting flown dead on into your unsuspecting , no pants wearing , naked as the day you were born nuts . The subtle crunch that oozes old Rottrevore worship from its very core fully engulfs the listener in a pungent , putrid , foul , warming ooze that soothes every last longin- for-great-death-metal nerve that one could possibly have left in their body from the endless barrage of "wannabe greats in a flooded scene of imitators" . Every single note , riff , choke , slide , and power chord seems to be meticulously planned out for an all out assault on those seeking melody , harmony , or just a simple gulp of breath from the cesspool stink that this band embodies to perfection . The bass is below bottom heavy and rounds out the indescribable amount of adjectives , and nouns one would need to dig up from their encyclopedia to properly describe the sickness and disease this band spreads from their very core even on a casual listen . Did I mention the catchiness of the songs ? They are catchy , almost doom-laden although there is nothing "doom metal" about this record .

The pummeling one takes from listening to the utter brutality of the music is the sonic equivalent of going the distance in a heavyweight 12 round prizefight with your hands bound behind your back to put it mildly . The drums are skull crushing with a heavy dose of "dare I say" ........ talent . The pounding grinding beats are relentless and chaotic feeling all the while keeping perfect time . The fills are insanely delivered and are very infectious . They are the perfect compliment to the rest of these unbelievably constructed , death metal anthems . The vocals are gut wrenching and gutural and sound as if the grim reaper laid down the vocal track himself . No harmonies and melodies and crap like that on here at all . The lyrics are in Danish and I don't read Danish but that doesn't matter because music after all is sound right ? It doesn't matter to me what your singing as long as it sounds sick and trust me this guy sounds sick . Just pure sick deeper than deep death the way us purists (like me) love it . The way of the old-school , the way it should be in the underground .

This record pukes in your open mouth for 32 minutes , it's just that mean , and if you don't like it go put on your favorite Cannibal Corpse sellout record and leave the real death metal for the people that really are into death metal like Undergang . If your looking for anything but the heaviest of heavy then keep looking but if true no bullshit flesh melting death served cold in the coffin is what's on your menu everyday like it is on mine ; well then Denmarks Undergang are serving breakfest , brunch , lunch and dinner EVERY FUCKING SECOND on this platter of disease infected splatter . When's the next album ?????? get this now....... SERIOUSLY.........PERFECT...........