The UK Death Metal scene is always a matter of discussion, especially because acts as BENEDICTION, BOLT THROWER, CARCASS, PARADISE LOST, ANATHEMA, MY DYING BRIDE, CANCER and others created different ways into the genre. But many acts of the country are still relevant and creating very good releases, and one name that is causing stir on the scene s AS THE WORLD DIES. And the quintet justifies such thing with “Nebula”, their second full-length. Anthony Wall (who previously worked with KK’S PRIEST) signs the mixing and mastering, with Scott (the band’s guitarist/keyboardist) taking care of the recordings. The result is a modern and defined sonority, but filled with weight and aggressiveness to the point of corroding the eardrums. In other words, it’s heavy and aggressive, but in a way that is simple to understand the band’s musical expression.

The band has members with passages on acts as CEREBRAL FIX, MASSACRE, MEMORIAM, UNEARTHED, ASHEN CROWN, HELLFIRE and others, so experience isn’t a problem to them. And here is a fine Progressive Death Metal release, but with a clear difference to other bands of the genre: they have both feet on classic Death Metal. The keyboards are used to give a temper to the band’s aggressiveness, with a very good technical insight (but without exaggerations) and a touch of modern Death Metal on their music. Be prepared, because it’s impossible to resist to the band’s Death Metal assault.

The quintet’s musical efforts shown on “Apophis”, “Consumed”, “Dark Oblivion”, “I am the One”, “Blind Destiny”, “Playing God”, “Voices of Angels”, “Under a Dying Sky” and “Final Resting Place” results on a balanced mix between aggressiveness, weight and extreme musical hooks. It’s not possible to listen and not praise their caustic work, with excellent death grunts, technical and nasty guitar riffs and arrangements, and solid (yet technical) work on bass guitar and drums on the rhythms. It’s a massacre!

If the reader is an addicted to the UK Death Metal School, “Nebula” is for you. And AS THE WORLD DIES is really a great surprise, indeed.