This band really astonished Ol' Big Daddy!

Yes, because HORRENDOUS, a Death Metal trio from USA (specifically, from Philadelphia), focus their efforts on a more traditional trend from the style, in the vein of ancients like OBITUARY, MORBID ANGEL, and especially DEATH (on "Leprosy" and "Spiritual Healing" eras), they use a lot of good melodies on guitars in the middle of their musical violence (they are more evident on guitar solos). And this makes the difference, turning their work something to really pay a lot of attention.

Harsh grunts in the vein of Chuck Schuldiner (but with some clean and agonized voices appearing sometimes), powerful and aggressive guitar riffs (and as said above, melodic solos), a cohesive rhythmic basis, done by bass and drums playing heavy as hell, and their music has a lot of darkened moments and morbid feelings. So, besides an old school approach, they are really to expand the bounds of Death Metal.

A good sound quality reaches our ears, turning all their work clear to us, even having the barriers that Death Metal imposes. But the most orthodox fans can be calm: it doesn't mean that the album is sounding too clear. No, it is heavy and having an old school aspect.

The album is well balanced, so we have some very good moments, as the long and heavy, "The Stranger" (starts with very good guitar riffs, then becomes a powerful song, with very good tempos and vocals), "Heaven Deceit" and it's more worked and melodic guitars' work, the excellent "Nepenthe" (a mid tempo song, with very good variations, what makes the rhythmic kitchen appears a lot), "Monarch", and the long and full of BLACK SABBATH elements "Pavor Nocturnus".

Of course we can hear and feel that the trio is going to evolve more and more, so let's see what future will bring to us...