Back in time, between the final years of the 80's and early days of the 90's, a violent storm of Death Metal bands came from Sweden. ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER and UNLEASHED helped to create and shape what came to be known as 'Swedish Death Metal'. But if the first album of each band became a classic, the second one came to be the maturity and final shape of things. "Clandestine", "Indecent and Obscene" and "Shadows in the Deep" are cornerstones of the genre, and CREEPING FLESH's musical work can be said as following the same trend, as "Into the Meat Grinder" (their first album) shows.

The album shows a brutal and oppressive form of traditional Death Metal in the vein of the 90's, but instead of being influenced by the earlier works of the genre, their music is into a sharpened way that can remind the second or third album of many giants from those days (because their musical work is in the vein of Swedish Death Metal from the 90's, but something of BOLT THROWER and CARCASS can be heard was well). Besides the formula is old and the band has potential to dare a bit more, it's really good and has a personal charm.

The sound quality of the album is good, besides far of being perfect. It's brutal and bears that aggressive and crude touch that is essential for the genre, but the mixing could have a better care in many points. Of course that the songs can be heard and understood, the set of instrumental tunes is good (but bass guitar and drums could have a better choice for their tunes next time), but it could be worked on a better way, a way that their music could be great. The same words once more: it's good, but not in the right point that their music deserves.

Musically, "Into the Meat Grinder" shows a band with potential to become a driving force in such genre, but must sharp things a bit more. For now, the frantic and catchy rhythm of "Tank Corps Unleashed" (what means that bass guitar and drums are doing a good work), the slow pace and oppressive ambiance of "Black Twisted Limbs" (very good guitar riffs, indeed, but in creative way), the massive catchy chaos unleashed during "Where Men Are Made and Undone" (where some nasty and dry melodies can be heard on guitars), the violent and catchy approach used on "Meat Grinder" (the grunts are right, but the vocals tunes could be worked in a better way), and the bone-crushing slow procession called "Beneath Freezing Waves" are the ones that show how they have potential to turn into good music.

Maybe their future second album can be great, but for now, "Into the Meat Grinder" is a fine first presentation for CREEPING FLESH. Be grinded by their work!