The North American Death Metal scene has deep roots on the 80s, when acts as POSSESSED, DEATH, MASTER, REPULSION, NECROPHAGIA, MASSACRE, AUTOPSY, IMMOLATION, DECEASED, MACABRE, MORBID ANGEL, OBITUARY, RIPPING CORPSE, TERRORIZER, and others started to used something more violent and brutal in music than their comrades on Thrash Metal. The model can be used on different ways, but the roots of North American traditional Death Metal is always there. And some younger acts refuse to embrace something new and try their ways into old models. One of them is TOMBSTONER, from New York, here with their second full-length, “Rot Stink Rip”.

Ben Karas was hired to work on the recording, mixing and mastering on the studio (with the vinyl version have its mastering done by J.B. van der Wal), with the clear idea to have a classic Death Metal outfit on the sonority, but with things being defined and understandable, as an updated version of what was done at Morrisound Studios in the 90s. And the target was reached, because everything s0ound heavy and aggressive, but clear to the ears. And the work of Tyler Pennington (artwork) and Nestor Carrera (layout) is what the fans would expect from a band who plays on the most classic Death Metal way possible. The musical content is what a fan of traditional Death Metal can expect: brutal and aggressive, but done with a good technical care (pay attention to the instrumental arrangements and contrasts between vocals tunes). But one must have in mind: even in such eroded formula, the quartet shows personality on its songs, being far of being a clone, and spewing a massive energy. It’s truly good.

“Sealed in Blood” (fine contrasts between tempos, and with a solid work on bass guitar and drums on the rhythms), “Rot Stink Rip” (a kind of classic Death Metal songs, with fine guitar riffs being expelled from the guitars, contrasting with some fine blast beats), “Fuckin’ Nasty” (some early Thrash Metal influences arise here, and what good contrasts between snarls and grunts), “Metamorphosis” (another classic Death Metal songs with charming instrumental arrangements), “Compulsive Ruminations” (some parts really can cause pain in the eardrums), “Desperate Dreams” (again a very good set of rhythmic shifts), and “Leave You for Last” are the right ones to begin with the album, but Death Metal fans will have difficulties to deal with the quartet’s music.

“Rot Stink Rip” is a good release for Old School Death Metal fans, but’s it’s clear that TOMBSTONER has potential to deliver something outstanding in a near future. Let’s check it, but I am enjoying this release.