When you see a band with name like CARNAL SAVAGERY and a cover artwork depicting a blood-thirsty zombie with a knife and an axe, then you pretty much should know what to expect from an album like "Into the Abysmal Void". This is the fifth studio recording of the Swedish duo Mikael Lindgren (drums,bass,guitars) and Mattias Lilja (vocals), who have created the band in 2017 and even managed to release two albums in 2022 alone ("Scent of Death" and "Worm Eaten") so the guys don't lack creativity and a desire to play. A pleasant surprise for me was to see that "Into the Abysmal Void" is released by the legendary US label Moribund Records, they have a huge catalogue and have played a pivotal role in the development of the extreme Metal underground in the 90's. I am happy to see that they are still around and still releasing qualitative music.

"Into the Abysmal Void" starts furiously with "Defleshing Bones" which is a stomping oldschool Swedish Death metal track, a furious opener,heavily influenced by AUTOPSY just like it was for the first Swedish Death metal bands from the end of the 80's - the beginning of the 90's. Fast drumming, the typical Swedish Death guitar tuning and the raspy vocals of Mattias Lilja. The pace go slower on the following "Morbid Death" which has a dark doomy feeling. Mikael Lindgren's imressive guitar lead work should be noted, you can enjoy his skillfully played solos everywhere in the album. "Stench of Burnt Decay" is fast but with a slow doom'n'gloom moment with a funeral bell ringing behind the music. The Swedish oldschool Death sound continues on the "Column of Maggots" which reminds me of the more mid-tempo tracks of DISMEMBER with some subtle keyboard sounds that accelerate the ominous atmosphere. "Choked to Death" is a strong headbanger carrying the spirit of the first UNLEASHED records while the shortest track here, "The Revenant" has a strong Thrash/Death vibe. The title track "Into the Abysmal Void" is a slow and apocalyptic anthem with a memorable chorus, while "Reek of Decomposing Flesh" and "Buried Alive" are fast neck-breaking songs. The final comes with the lovely titled "Raped in a Coffin" which is short and fast track with a twisted guitar solo in the middle.

CARNAL SAVAGERY love their oldschool Swedish Death metal tradition and this is the music that they like to play. They don't offer anything new or revolutionary, but they don't need to. "Into the Abysmal Void" is an album for the fans of the Swedish Death who would like to know how their favourite music may sound like in 2024.