You instantly get a huge “European feel” from this album, especially in its thicker, mid-paced riffing. Grave are undoubtedly the best points of reference in this, mainly through their heavy, grounded groove, but there are occasional glimpses of guitar work that remind me of earlier Morbid Angel, not quite enough to claim Maggod sounds like either but good enough for a general impression.
The production definitely adds to the sound, being clean enough for all the riffs to punch through and for the drum sound to actually be audible without getting totally lost in the mix, but not so clean and flat it lacks character. This adds to the general heavy weight for the album.
The vocals here are kept fairly down low with a sludgy, almost bog-like delivery that complements the album’s feel well. They just add an extra layer of filth to the song while not really drowning out the guitars.
Solid, well-produced European Death Metal that’s got enough heft, groove, and warped riffs for you to enjoy for its runtime. Fans of that heaviness from Grave with an added slightly warped riff idea would surely get enjoyment out of this.
