On July 3, 2020, SOUL GRINDER released their debut album "Chronicles Of Decay." This album was originally set to release in May, but was postponed due to the pandemic. SOUL GRINDER is a German Death Metal band that formed in 2018. Soon after, they released an EP titled "Sadistic Parasite." Their style of Death Metal is straightforward and simply aggressive. Though tracks can be at a breakneck pace, the riffs maintain a solid groove throughout the album that is easy to headbang along to. There aren't overly technical or overly melodic riffs.

Starting from the opening track, "Infernal Suffering," the music is fast and aggressive, with menacing guitar riffs. On the third track "Ruins Of Existence," a section that's slower changes up the tempo and culminates in a great riff at a measured, but still heavy, pace. The next track "My Unwilling Giver" is an example of a track with a great groove. The complete package of the riff, vocals, and drums gives the track an earworm quality, similar to "Eaten" by BLOODBATH.

The sixth track "The Sun And The Serpent" has a grandiose intro that leads into a track full of riffs. There is a brief breakdown section and some symphonic choir singing for great effect. The riffs add a bit of melody without taking away from the aggression at all. "Signs Of Decline" starts off interestingly, with dirty vocals yelling with only a tribal drum beat in the background. It returns to SOUL GRINDER's normal steamrolling death metal, though with a brief return to the tribal and mystical sound at the end that ties the song together. "Hymn Of Death," the bonus track, is a relatively melodic track. Combined with the tolling bells in the chorus, the track really is a "Hymn Of Death."

Overall, I recommend this album to Death Metal fans, perhaps specifically those that prefer groove and some melody but don't want a full on Melodic Death Metal band. It's full of great riffs and surprising little additions that make the album stand out against all the Death Metal that's out there. "Chronicles Of Decay" is a great debut and I look forward to future releases.