Imperishable – Deathspawn (2021)

Approaching Swedish death metal as a hybrid of Dismember and Dissection, Imperishable begin songs with tightly-socketed riffs that correspond directly to each other, then build up to melodic riffs that are equal parts Iron Maiden and classic death metal, adding an air of mystery and a shifting ambience of emotion to their songs.

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Savage Deity – Decade of Savagery (2021)


by Ton Basileion

Working within the flutterstrum-tremolo tradition of early death metal, Savage Deity rip and tear through several anthems to violence on their latest release. Songs follow the “skeleton” of death metal established by Slayer, with an introduction followed by alternating verse and chorus riffs, then give way to variations in the second half of each piece before returning to the initial themes. This in turn creates the kaleidoscopic effect that the best of death metal is (in)famous for.

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Evil Damn – Necronomicon (2021)

Following the lead of South American bands like Mortem and Krisiun, Evil Damn charge ahead with fast riffs from the early days of death metal before the genre fully separated from speed metal, but keep the influence on speed rather than choppy riffs, making an energetic and seamless listening experience.

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Massacre – Resurgence (2021)

Like most of nowadays death metal, this album has its moments, but fundamentally, is a speed metal and heavy metal hybrid dressed up as death metal. Like rock music, it focuses on establishing tonal centers and then using fills around those to keep its riffs together, instead of getting fully chromatic and using phrasal, through-composed music.

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