Maximum Metal Rating Legend

DEATH BREATH - "Stinking Up The Night" - 2006 - Relapse Records

Track Listing1."Death Breath" 2."Chopping Spree" 3."Heading For Decapitation" 4."Dragged Through The Mud" 5."Coffins Of The Unembalmed Dead" 6."A Morbid Mind" 7."Reduced To Ashes" 8."Christ All Fucking Mighty" 9."Flabby Little Things From Beyond" 10."Cthulhu Fhtagn!"

Harkening back to a time when Swedish death metal did not mean the light relaxing sounds of IN FLAMES and all things Gothenburg, DEATH BREATH enters the ring with a vengeance. Evoking the ancient deities of ENTOMBED, CARNAGE, GRAVE, and DISMEMBER with their debut "Stinking Up The Dead", the first stone has been cast. The primal death metal is played almost with a punk exuberance (but not with the negative connotations associated with punk, this is pure metal). "Stinking..." slams with the ferocity of a locomotive. Nicke Andersson (founder of ENTOMBED and it's predecessor NIHILIST) leads this surge into yesteryear. The band is further rounded out by Robert Pehrsson and Magnus Hedquist. Guest musicians include Scott Carlson (REPULSION), JORGEN SANDSTROM (GRAVE), and Fred Etsby (DISMEMBER).

So-so opener "Death Breath" gives way to the headbanging frenzy of "Chopping Spree". The ultra-tight rhythm section and the head slamming guitar riffs do not let up for much of the album thereafter. Remember those chainsaw sounding guitars? They're baaack. Things do slow down for most of "Dragged Through The Mud". It is the compulsory slow song of the album, but still as ominous as a raven at midnight. The two songs that stand out the most to me are the aforementioned "Chopping Spree" and "Flabby Little Things From Beyond". Closing instrumental piece "Cthulhu Fhtagn!" is the perfect closer for this beast.

You could play "Stinking Up The Night" right alongside ENTOMBED's "Left Hand Path" and DISMEMBER's "Like An Everflowing Stream" and one would be very hard pressed to pick which one of these did NOT come out in the early 90's. It is THAT true and honest to that era. No frills, no gimmicks, nothing original or groundbreaking. This path needs no deviation. It sounds rehashed, but also fresh at the same time. That is not an easy thing to pull off. This album will slay whatever is left of you.


--Death Metal Shawn 12.02.06