Swedish Death Metal has strong roots in the Hardcore scene, as the pioneers of NIHILIST shown. But as they came to hear Thrash Metal acts, the things started to changed in the core of the band’s music, so it came to be the embryonic form of what CARNAGE, DISMEMBER, ENTOMBED, UNLEASHED and some others started back on the early days of the 90s. Today, such formula is back to use on the hands of some younger acts, as CARNAL SAVAGERY (from Sweden, of course), as depicted on “Graveworms, Cadavers, Coffins and Bones”.

The band has an interesting feature: this full-length is their second one on the same year (“Into the Abysmal Void” was released on 01/2024). But musically, what one will find here is the old and good Old School Swedish Death Metal, that old and good formula used by the pioneers named above, with some improvements (some melodic sense is heard in many parts in a way that THE HAUNTED used on its early works), but with those old and good Hardcore hooks of the past, aggressiveness being used with a great care (to allow the instrumental arrangements to be understood by the fans), and with a sobber technical appeal. It’s good, indeed, and it’s what the doctor said that makes the heart beating as it must.

The band delivered to Jonas Jönsson (recording, mixing) and Dan Swanö (mastering) the responsibility to created the right sonority for the album. And what is shown: a very good Old School Death Metal model, with aggressiveness flowing free from the speakers, but always in a way that’s easy to understand what’s being expressed. And to complete the sick appeal of the songs, the artwork of Sidjimbe Art does the rest (you see the cover, you know it’s a Death Metal release). And as guest, here is Matias Quiroz (of BLEAK FLESH and MIRROR OF ASH) on the guitar solos.

Jigsaw guitar riffs, thunderous rhythmic structures from bass guitar and drums (sometimes fast and aggressive, on others slower and bitter), and death growls ‘coming-from-a-deep-cave’ is what one can find on the songs, so there’s no need to choose a set of best songs. If you’re into Death Metal in any way possible, what is delivered on “Nailed to the Cross”, “Carnal Blasphemy”, “Gallery of Flesh”, “Bind Torture Kill”, “Graveworms, Cadavers, Coffins and Bones”, “Death Triumphant”, “Charred Mass of Flesh”, “Autopsied Alive”, “Burnt to Death”, “Mutilation” and “Decapitated” is more than enough to show that Old School Swedish Death Metal is alive and still can bring good surprises to the fans.

“Graveworms, Cadavers, Coffins and Bones” is a very good release for Death Metal fans, and states CARNAL SAVAGERY as a leading force into the genre.