Phoenix based Unembalmed strike once again with EP “Serpents At The Doorway of Death”, two years after their odious debut LP “The Stench of Suffering”, which continuously resonates music embodying Swedeath & OSDM acts such as Immolation, Bolt Thrower, & Entombed.
Simply meaning “not embalmed”, this trio have honed into traditional death metal arrangements with a prominent cadency & nubilous vocals that carry through their roughly twenty minute duration, spread between six hefty tracks. Compared to their LP, “Serpents At The Doorway of Death” is less time & tracks, also shifting from their initial d-beat presentation with organic production that’s not TOO raw nor overly polished, keeping listeners content with enjoying something that’s familiar versus taking an entirely different path with their writing.
Artwork done by Fear of Napalm, who’s done covers as well as logos for bands of various music genres such as Gorekaust, Egocide & Traffic Death.
More or less similar time lengths with exception of protracted closer “Mountain Decay (Viral Tomb)”, there’s an austere uncomplicated approach within compositions that’s easy for listener’s to digest, notable to those who admire older waves of death metal. “Portal of The Fleshless” & “Soultaker” have analogous sludgy beginnings before those viscous inflections come in & the bulky squalid mid tempo riffs between guitar & drums leave your ears ringing! “Wisdom of The Serpent” has a solemn inception with a variety of shifting tempos that lead into a rambunctious culminating end. “Howls of Execration” & “Death Unconquered” reverts to their punk origins displayed on their previous full length, giving this release more variance, avoiding repetitive structures & keeps us engaged for what’s next in their musical chapter.
Overall a pleasant release that gives a glimmer into the past while progressing into a more sinister sentiment, no complaints here! (Tori Belle)
