But all of that doesn't matter one thing, because METAL dammit.
Necrodium is one of those Finnish bands who doesn't seem to be able to keep the same line-up. Founded as a trio in 2006, they recorded a demo in 2007, changed drummers and recorded some other demos as well. By then, in 2012, the consistency of the line-up took another blow. After Wallu (bass and vocals) left, Linda was recruited for the growls and Mika, who was later replaced by Kaj, on bass. What's up with bass players by the way, why can't they just stick to a band?
Anyway, I already mentioned 'brutal death metal' and that exactly what you can expect. After a short, eerie, intro, Necrodium launches their assault with the sick 'The Vengeance (From Beneath)'. This song is quite complicated, mainly in the nature of the riffs but also so intensely crushing sound of the instruments. Add Linda's massive growls and you truly get something frightening and punishing. 'Into Oblivion' takes on a bit of a doom metal approach, immediately explaining why this album is such a sledge-hammer. This is doom infested death metal and a very intense one too.
'Torture Test' is, besides a song with a self-explanatory title, a grindcore influenced death metal song that continues to hammer on your eardrums. If you're not a metal fan, you will go insane immediately, but then again, you will probably deserve to be smashed to pieces by this music anyway. 'Cannibalizer' continues the abhorrent attack. At this point I'm actually thinking 'Necrodium might as well just beat their audience senseless with their instruments'. The effect will be quite the same.
I guess it's save to say that Necrodium will fit in perfectly with bands like Morbid Angel, Deicide and Cannibal Corpse. Thick, vile death metal riffs and a wide variety of equally brutal drums usually make up for a decent album and this one is no different.
Old school death metal fans should embrace this band immediately but I'm not sure if the new wave of death metal fans (mainly deathcore stuff) will appreciate this. Leave them alone in a closed room with a sickening gore-anthem like 'Remnants Of Claustrophobia' and they'll be scratching their eyes out within five minutes (and than there's still four more to go). (but then again; maybe they deserve it too).
Serge