Gryla is a monstrous being or entity from Icelandic mythology and I think the music lives up to its horrifying appearance!
‘The Redeemer’s Festering Carcass’ is composed of 6 attacks and begins with the first two tracks sharing the title of the opus. The first thing that stands out is the violence that is unleashed at the end of the introductory hallelujahs, intense and rabid attack with a harsh and desperate voice at the same time, armed and assembled by fast parts characteristic of 90s Black Metal alternating with mid tempos and somewhat dissonant riffs. The attack that follows in the row is annihilating with references to old Darkthtrone and Gorgoroth, the tone and sound of the guitar is bestial and drills everything in its path, the riffs are the most striking along with the drums that do a beastly job riding the weight of the song with varied rhythms but without losing the intensity displayed.
Now, something that must be made clear here is that the person behind all this chaos is an 18-year-old boy who obviously lets his Black Metal influences from his native country flow and in my opinion manages to play the instruments, voices and growls very well in this work. In the songs ‘Banners Soaked in Crimson Essence’ and ‘Imposer’, he lets his wide repertoire of musical elements shine. It is in the latter ‘Imposer’ where guttural voices accompany the verses that are consumed which gives it an interesting variant but without losing the line of what was being projected in the album. The album closes with ‘Spewing Fecal Abjurations’ which reminded me of the rhythms and dissonant chords of Swedish Craft because it has D-beat rhythms, the sound of the snare drum, which is possibly a piccolo, is better highlighted and gives it that nuance and characteristic sound of grind with good memorable riffs for the end of the song.
‘The Redeemer’s Festering Carcass’ was released by Iron Bonehead Productions and it is quite nice that this important underground label has given space to release it on CD and vinyl to a young man and his band.
