From the state of Saxony, a region located within the eastern portion of Germany lays the city of Dresden. A place situated just north before the Czech border and a place often met with the touring bands heading to and from Berlin. Despite the many tourist attractions and natural beauty, there is a more aggressive and vile form taking shape here. Dresden Germany is where the group DEATHRITE took shape and within the city where they first began to fester. 

From the primitive Crust beginnings that morphed into the monstrosity we see before us of an older style of Death Metal, DEATHRITE has come a long way and often showcases an unconventional version of raw and impulsive older Death Metal. Having formed back in 2010 in the city of Dresden Germany, DEATHRITE wouldn't release their first demo “MMXI Demo” until 2011. From here the band would fester and evolve their tone into what we have today. With four previous full-length albums previously released, the group is back with their latest full-length album.

“Flames Licking Fever” is the latest installment from DEATHRITE and was released on October 18, 2024 under the banner of Into Endless Chaos Records. An album that offers their take on death that is enriched with a raw element often tinged crust. With ten loud and aggressive tracks, this album will hit fast and hard for 43:10 minutes. With the raw crust being injected into an older Death Metal, I am looking forward to this. So let’s dive in.

Looking at the art, I see a colourful abstract painting of shapes that mold into faces and the like. It's different and unique in its own way. Reds, yellows, blues, whites and so on make up the massive abstract art color pallet. Images of eyes, skulls and possible demonic beings can be made out within the swirling of colors and shapes. The band's logo sits central with the album name just below within a decorative Gothic font both in white coloring. I like the choice of art chosen to be displayed for the album.

“Crippled Ego” kicks off with a simple but aggressive build up. Distorted reverb that leads into heavy drums on a tone that is familiar with older Crust and Punk Rock. The heavy rhythm carries into the main track and will have you remember early DARKTHRONE. Simple but raw as the track carries on with the heavy bombardment of Crust influences. Decent start to the album, and the use of reverb was well placed. “Restless Eyes” Follows up afterwards with a wave of feedback and distortion at the beginning, before a decent drum roll kicks in with the low tuned guitars. Harsh vocals corrode the tone and help to set that pace. The lead comes in shredding over the low, heavy tone. Major influence that leans more into crust and older Punk Rock with hints of Death chord progressions so far. 

As you listen through the album you will hear various influences of various older bands like EXTREME NOISE TERROR, DARKTHRONE and even very early DEICIDE that shine through. With a bit of a slower pace, “Flames Licking Fever” carries on with the band's own unconventional raw tone. With elements of older death being heavily influenced by the early UK Hardcore Punk Rock grove chord progressions that gave roots into the beginning of crust. It’s this unique blending of chord progressions and structure that makes this a great listen. That harsh rawness that is displayed with a slower aggression. The mix is decent as well and works with the tracks, which I might add have flavour and don’t necessarily blend together. 

“All Consuming Fire” begins with a raw melodic chord progression that rings out in a high tone before the drums time in the verse. Raw and aggressive, slow but heavy with that primitive undertone. The groove rhythm that helps thicken it up as the track as the caustic vocals coat everything in a ratched tone. A fitting end to a great album.

DEATHRITE does a fantastic job at displaying their primitive Death that has been heavily strong undertones of Hardcore Punk Rock. Their unconventional take showcases their own influences that is displayed through their own style and grants us a pretty decent primitive Death Metal album. An album that I would suggest grabbing a copy to give a shot and listen to. I enjoyed it, maybe you will too.