The California sludge monsters are back! Ahhh, grindy but no grindcore...this is heavier!! Title track reminds me of BLACK SABBATH's theme song...very doomy, with the last minute bursting into an upbeat feel. "Destined to Fester" is also very eerie with more changes, while the last song, "In the Grip of Winter" sounds like early SLAUGHTER playing a rockin' but gory SABBATH-type riff. Yup, Chris Reifert's drumming and vocals are still primitive, with bassist Steve Cutler helping form a solid death metal platform (that we can dive off into hell ?). The guitar work by Eric Cutler and Danny Coralles is a lot better here than on the first LP "Severed Survival". CIRITH UNGOL and ST. VITUS fans definitely should check this record out.

© 1999 mlotek
[originally published in "Doomhauled"../"Scrolls of Doom" fanzine 87-90]