Old School Death Metal acts have the tendency to become clones of their idols of the past, locked up in an endless circle from where they can't escape from their own choice. But it doesn't mean that a band can't do things in a personal way using such an old and eroded approach. Names as ULCER, from Poland, shows that things can be different, as can be heard on "Dead Souls Cathedral", their latest release.

It's a form of traditional Death Metal influenced by early Swedish Death Metal names as CARNAGE, DISMEMBER, ENTOMMBED and UNLEASHED, and with some touches of North American School. But paying attention, the listeners will detect for some technical details and a clear melodic basting under their musical brutality (and that are especially evident during the guitar solos). But as written words fail to state what an album can express sometimes, the best is to say that they found a personal way to deal with the genre. And it's good, indeed. The production of the album focused its efforts to create something that could keep the Old School elements of their music into the album. But the choice for a better sonority, with a careful work that make their songs understandable to the ears, was very good one, indeed. And the Old School touch comes from the instrumental tunes used.

The mayhemic brutality of "Those Black Gods" (very good melodic basting along nasty guitars arrangements and grunts) and of "Not the One", the catchy slow parts of "Cold Darkness" (with a simple, but good, work from bass guitar and drums on the rhythmic conduction), the massive Old School weight shown on the fast tempos of "Die with Us", and the very good technical work heard on "Dead Souls Cathedral" are the best ones to begin with. But for a Death Metal addicted, "Dead Souls Cathedral" is a fine piece of Death Metal.

So be the next one on the line, and surrender to the brutality of ULCER. You won't regret the experience.