‘Septic Tomb’ is one of those releases that does not need too much explanation to make its intentions clear.
Savage aims directly at the old Swedish school and does not try to hide it. There is Death Metal, Crust, Grind, Thrash, groove, and that dirty edge that immediately brings to mind the years when the Swedish sound was still developing its own identity.
The four newer tracks have a more robust and clearer production, while the three songs taken from the 2023 demo sound rawer and more primitive. The difference is obvious. But for someone raised on demos, EPs, and recordings from different sessions, that does not necessarily work against the release. In fact, it can work perfectly well as a way of showing two different stages of the band.
Could it have been presented differently? Sure. Does it ruin the EP? Not at all.
Musically, Savage works because they know exactly what territory they want to occupy. There is direct riffing, changes of pace, sections closer to Crust, moments of Grind, some Thrash reflections, and plenty of groove. All of it is well integrated within a structure that is clearly rooted in Death Metal.
I would not call the EP monotonous. I would rather say that it is consistent with a very specific formula. And that is the key. If someone is expecting a band that will completely rewrite the rules of Death Metal, this is probably not the release for them. Savage does not seem interested in doing that.
Their goal is something else: to capture an essence. A way of playing. A texture. An attitude. A way of understanding Death Metal that clearly belongs to the old Swedish school. And in that respect, they succeed. The EP sounds good in both of its forms: the newer material and the older material. The production difference is there, but both sides share the same DNA.
For anyone deeply connected to that classic Swedish sound, ‘Septic Tomb’ will probably be an easy record to enjoy. For those looking for innovation, maybe not so much. But I do not think that was ever the intention.
Savage does not want to sound new. They want to sound right within a tradition they know well. And that is precisely where their strength lies.
