| CD REVIEW Stench |
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Band: Stench The Swedish trio Stench, with members of Tribulation (highly acclaimed and well-appreciated debut full length The Horror reviewed and posted in February 2009 on our beloved site), debuts with In Putrescence, an eight-tracker that was recorded with Olof Wikstrand (Hvergelmer Studio, think Tribulation amongst others), and which was mixed and mastered at Necromorbus Studio with Tore Stjerna (Tribulation, yet also, for example, Merrimack, Die Hard, Sathanas, Sol Axis, Vemoth etc). In spite of the short length (thirty one minutes only), I am extremely pleased by this piece of Death Art. In Putrescence does not sound like Tribulation’s latest material, but there are certain comparisons. Like: the injection of Thrash and Black Metal elements, the uncompromising and merciless performance, as well as the schizophrenic, blood dripping morbidity. The sound is comparable too (same engineer, same mixer, same studios), yet with a rougher, unclean approach. And what to think about the differing additions? Tribulation is a great band, yet they sort of lack of being varying (which this band does not need to be one of Sweden’s Elite); this band injects lots of subtle extras (oh, what a splendid beginning on Breath Of The Rottenness, to mention one example), as well as many changes in tempo, melody and structure (with a few nicely composed and performed hooks). Indeed, In Putrescence easily combines experiment with a straight-forward mentality. And an old school attitude with a modern approach...isn’t that nice, at least in this case? Smelly stuff… 85/100 Ivan Tibos. |
