Band:	Necrot
Album:	Lifeless Birth
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	April 2024

01. Cut The Cord
02. Lifeless Birth
03. Superior
04. Drill The Skull
05. Winds Of Hell
06. Dead Memories
07. The Curse

There's nothing that says extreme metal quite like a man protruding from a demon's snake penis.

If Wii Sports has taught me anything, it's that in bowling, if you get three strikes in a row, it's called getting a turkey; given Necrot have produced two strikes thus far, it's time to see if Lifeless Birth sees the band get a turkey, or serve listeners up a turkey. If that laboured introduction doesn't set the scene, then just know that Necrot have produced two solid albums thus far. Among the best in a new crop of death metal acts that have shown that the old school death style still has life in it, Necrot have long nailed their colours to the mast, and Lifeless Birth is no different.

Necrot have made the transition from youthful exuberance on Blood Offerings to sonic maturity on Lifeless Birth, with the rawness giving way to better songwriting. Indeed, it is easy to forget how Necrot are a trio, given how powerful and well-rounded tracks like "Winds Of Hell" are, showing off the tightness of their musicianship. The buzzsaw groove of "Drill The Skull" will have fans windmilling and flailing limbs as it grinds, before the inevitable crowd roar-along to the chorus line.

Gailey is perhaps the key to the band's success, with his propulsive drums underpinning songs like the title track, proving to be the glue that holds everything together, without sacrificing flair or ingenuity. Indrio's bass work fills in the gaps where a second guitar would normally sit, its heavy rumbling giving tracks a solid low end upon which to build on. The band is aided in this by a production that sits perfectly between old school sensibilities and modern sonic quality.

The only real shortcoming on Lifeless Birth is that some tracks could have benefitted from trimming down some sections, either shortening them or omitting them entirely. While an enjoyable and ambitious track that deserves some merit, "The Curse" is the worst offender in this regard (unsurprising given that it is also the longest), and could really benefitted from some shortening.

Necrot may not win many plaudits for originality, but the band make up for it in quality, producing some of the finest modern old school death metal in the last decade. Lifeless Birth is no different, making for the band's best work to date and one that sets a high bar in an already stacked year.