Zombiefication incorporate many styles into their old school styled death metal but their ultimate forte is melodic death metal in the style made popular by early Necrophobic or Unanimated.
This band contributed a track to the Cenotaph tribute album and it’s hard not to think of the second and third Cenotaph albums which used the stylistic span between At the Gates and Therion’s Lepaca Kliffoth. In addition, Zombiefication use riffs much like early Amorphis, if Amorphis were interested in single-string picking of quick melodies.
Not all is old school however. At the Caves of Eternal features vocals that might be more at place on later At the Gates or The Haunted albums. They are nearly monotonic and do not vary style or inflection between songs, which gives them a consistency that breaks from the death metal tradition that all instruments labor toward the same effect. Drumming is more modern as well, with a jazz-fusion influence that is understated but prevalent. In addition, many of the leads follow more of a rock sense of theme and balance than the metal goal of high intensity chaos forming order despite itself.
At the Caves of Eternal uses the melodic death metal style effectively across this album, with the songs clustered near beginning and end having the most punch. If it has a fault, it is not stylistic, but in substance; the emotions and approach do not seem to vary between songs, making them variations on a theme that may be entirely musical. However, if you want to revive the old school melodic style, this album presents a potent option.
I heard a few tracks and this is just “it kind of happens” metal. Reminds me of Death Breath, swedeath rock. Even the rock n roll influenced Clandestine was a more interesting listen because the song structures switched up enough to avoid monotony, and the track sequence was varied as well. Another band in the Bloodbath, Miasmal, Entrails and other one dimensional derivatives group.
I’m personally hoping for more melodic death metal seeing as both old styled DM and old styled traditional heavy metal are on a roll lately. It should only be a matter of time before a band that isn’t Vex, Funeral Age, or The Chasm attempts to combine the two.