Band:	Wombbath
Album:	Choirs Of The Fallen
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	March 2020

01. Fallen
02. Crawling From The Pits
03. We Shall Remain
04. A Sweet Taste Of Death
05. From The Beggars Hand
06. Void
07. A Vulgar Declaration
08. Wings Of Horror
09. Choirs Of The Damned
10. In A Cloak Of Anger

Intros are for the weak. Wait, does that count as an intro?

Wombbath play a really fun style of death metal -- the kind the kids these days are probably referring to as death'n'roll -- I wouldn't know; I'm 100 years old. Stylistically, they aren't entirely unlike their Swedish counterparts Entombed, whose former live session bassist is now manning the guitars here, which is an unnecessary fact that you now know. Not that being in several bands should come as a surprise to anyone familiar with the Swedish death metal scene; after all, it's a cornucopia of recycled talent that runs rampant like a vir-- uh, best not to use that word these days, sorry. It just runs rampant like a rampant running thing.

Something immediately worth pointing out while the topic is open is how much Wombbath deviate from the Entombed mold, despite possibly being (unfairly) lumped into that same restrictive category. There is just so much more food on the table compared to the (successfully implemented) simplistic setting of their aforementioned counterparts, it might as well be displayed in different rooms -- of the same house, mind you. The parallels are as obvious as the differences, which hopefully gives them a chance beyond the incredibly niche demographic of death'n'roll constituents. Death metal fans of all types will undoubtedly discover some niche or archetypal frame of reference that draws their attention like a moth to flame, understandably.

Not so much entwined in the old school revivalist aspects as rejuvenating a once-hopeful group of star-struck Scandinavians by way of replacing everyone outside of original member Håkan Stuvemark (guitars), Wombbath employ an incredibly loose approach to their sound, incorporating levels of groove typically reserved for the genre's founding fathers. There's an instantaneous sense of early '90s atmosphere brought on by the gritty production and crunchy guitar tone, with its pounding, almost headache-inducing drumming* lending support throughout, but there's an unexpectedly substantial amount of masterfully written melodies hidden beneath its surface. Choirs of the Fallen, it seems, is deserving of its title, featuring an array of epic, soaring leads that completely shift the tone of the album from underground schlock to -- well, underground greatness.

To put it simply: Death metal fans will enjoy this album. Some of them will even fall victim to its subtle, surprising charm. If that doesn't seem like something that appeals to you, then you're probably the neighbors I refer to immediately below, as per the asterisk above.

* meant as a compliment, or as a tip to annoy your metal-hating neighbors