Sewercide "Immortalized in Suffering"

    Venomous snakes and man-eating saltwater crocodiles, are just a couple things that make Australia one brutal place to live. Adding to the brutality is the Melbourne based death metal band, Sewercide. You want a shot of kick ass adrenaline pumping old school death metal? Well, their debut full-length release, “Immortalized in Suffering,” is definitely the answer. 

    Teaming up with Unspeakable Axe Records, Sewercide perfectly compliments the label’s desire to be one of metal’s most extreme and solid independent labels around. The band has been active since 2011 and it seems after putting out a fair amount of demos and splits, the group is ready to introduce listeners to a full-length album that destroys from top to bottom. Their style of death metal falls into the old school worship category and I hear strong Morbid Angel influence along with Hate Eternal, Deicide and Pestilence. If anything, they play it safe and stick to face smashing death metal and leave all that progressive stuff to the bands who want to peruse that path of extreme music making. Honestly, I do enjoy their consistency, but I would say that Sewercide is not trying to rearrange the death metal formula. Is that good, is that bad...who cares, their riffs are aggressive and the vocals sound as if they were recorded in the tombs of cursed warlords. 

    Kicking the album off is the track, “For Those About to Rot.” The band lays down a vicious riff that features wicked palm muted chord progressions, while the double bass smashing rhythm from their drummer crushes across the musical landscape. I also really dig the gruesome old school death metal vocals that in my opinion captures the classic Florida death metal sound. “A Dying Dream,” is the album’s second track and maintains the brutal sound that you heard on the first track. They even throw in this short bluesy sounding riff that sounds like the footsteps of Cthulhu walking towards a town that will shortly be leveled to the ground. Track three, “Snares of Carnality,” features more slamming guitar parts and the instrumental arrangements sound well thought out. 

    There are some bands I have reviewed that seriously need to stop trying to play fast and focus on coming up with solid sections that can transition without sounding like a gigantic ball chaotic distortion. Sewercide’s level of musicianship and their solid songwriting abilities will really attract listeners who are tired of hearing piss pour death metal recordings. Some other good tracks I want to mention are “Interlude in Agony,” “Megalithic Tomb,” and “Eternal (In Spirit). “Interlude in Agony,” is just a creepy short piano piece that serves as an intermission before listeners are given more brutal cuts of old school. Probably my favorite song on the album, “Megalithic Tomb,” just annihilates with sheer unapologetic force. 

   When all is said and done and Sewercide is all out extreme riffs, you can’t deny their passion for making old school style death metal music. I think there is still more for them to offer and I believe they are on the right path. Also, I would not want to hear them become too experimental and think their old school worship style is rather enjoyable. All they need to do is just keep consistently pumping out monumental sounding tracks of brutality and the headbanging maniacs shall be drawn to their music like crocodiles to raw meat. 

Check out this song by Sewercide "Snares of Carnality":

Sewercide Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/Sewercide

Interview: Necrot

Even though they are busy touring and promoting the release of their new album, "The Labyrinth," Necrot was kind enough to answer some questions I had for them. Being one of the Bay Area's most talented extreme acts with a sound heavy enough to demolish a building, it was a true honor to interview these dudes. Here is the complete interview below...

Hi there guys, thanks for taking the time to answer these questions. I notice that you are quite busy with playing shows in the Bay Area, small tours here and there, and now you have out this full-length release called, “The Labyrinth.” Necrot seems to be firing on all cylinders right now! Is there any time for rest?! 

Necrot: Hey! Thanks for the interview! As a matter of fact we are getting very little rest at the moment. We are driving to Michigan to play the fourth show of our East Coast/Midwest tour. We are having a blast with our friends, Skullshitter, from Brooklyn, New York. We have another week and a half to go but we're ready to raise hell and party hard!

I guess I’ll begin by asking, what finally made you guys want to release a full-length with all your past demo tracks? Also, these are remastered from what I have read, so how was that whole process and are you pleased with the remastered tracks? 

Necrot: Releasing this compilation album was always a goal for us but we never had anyone seriously commit to putting it out. We had been talking with Scotty from Tankcrimes for a while at different times and eventually he offered to release the record for us. To say the least, we were into it and started putting everything in motion. Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound remastered all eight demo tracks for the new record and we were happy with how they came out. 

For, “The Labyrinth,” you worked with Tankcrimes and Sentient Ruin, who both put out the release on their labels and have given fans a chance to own a physical copy of the album in a variety of forms. What was it like working with both labels on putting out this release? Also, what is your favorite form of the album: vinyl, CD, or tape? I guess eight-track will be out next year...

Necrot: Working with Tankcrimes, Sentient Ruin, and Extremely Rotten has been very easy since we are all friends with each other. We've known all of them for years so it worked its way out naturally. My favorite form of the release so far is the LP. The vinyl was pressed on three different colors and includes a poster insert and a download card.

Being apart of the Bay Area metal community for a decent amount of time now, how has the scene evolved in your opinion? Also, before Necrot were any of you involved in other bands and did that help contribute to Necrot’s sound when you three came together? 

Necrot: When we were starting out there were a lot of great bands from the Bay Area that were playing death metal. Over the last few years, many have disbanded or are working behind the scenes writing new songs and recording albums. Most of the newer bands in the Bay Area are punk, black metal, or funeral doom. It seems like everything is getting darker which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Before Necrot was started, Luca was playing in Acephalix, Vastum, and Lawless. Chad was playing in Bruxers. Sonny was playing with Saviours and occasionally Word Salad. I think playing in these bands before Necrot helped us form our sound and ideology that we wanted to put forth for this band. 

I apologize in advance for asking the standard question, but could you list some of your musical influences growing up? As much as I’m sure old death metal bands played an important role, are there any other bands you listened to that might have shaped your musical identity? 

Necrot: We all grew up listening to punk and metal in its many forms. Some influence for Necrot would be Autopsy, Immolation, Death, Morbid Angel, Motörhead, Grave, Nihilist, Discharge, Repulsion, and Bolt Thrower

Over the years Necrot has shared the stage with a large amount of acts, however, who have been some of the most memorable bands that you guys have played with? 

Necrot: Extinction of Mankind, Hellshock, Undergang, Master, Exhumed, Brainoil, Skullshitter, Toxic Holocaust, Bone Sickness, Eyehategod, Steel Bearing Hand, Lightning Swords of Death, Trenchgrinder, Necrophagia, Venom Inc, Ghoul, Rude, Cannabis Corpse, Scolex, Mortuous, Cyanic

I was wondering, since Necrot seems to be a band that has a strong veteran like presence in the Bay Area extreme music community, what advice would you give to some of the young bands starting out? I think your strong songwriting skills and tour wisdom would be very helpful and informative. 

Necrot: Practice all the time, don't be an asshole to people who support you, believe in and think for yourself, don't sell yourself short, don't let drugs and alcohol overtake your passions, and most of all support other bands in your community. 

Looking ahead here, is there any chance us fans can expect a full-length album with new material? Plus, will it be as brutal and unforgiving as those past demo tracks, or will you throw listeners an extreme progressive curve ball? 

Necrot: We have a new album written and we will be recording it after the tour at Earhammer. To say the least, we won't disappoint!

Well, thanks again guys and keep destroying on the road and in the studio! Cheers! \m/ - Rob

Necrot: Thanks, Rob! 

Necrot Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/cyclesofpain/?fref=ts