DYING REMAINS hailing from Calgary, Canada are a Death Metal band. After releasing one EP, they follow-up with their full-length debut album "Merciless Suffering". The album has a length of almost 30 minutes, and it was recorded at Colossus Audio Productions. It was released via Californian Death Metal, Grindcore, and Hardcore specialists Maggot Stomp. The album starts with the title track and a tension-building, grim intro, leading into powerful guitar riffs accompanied by the double-bass at a measured tempo and a sluggish rhythm. The vocals are growls and they vary between the medium to higher end of the guttural range. After the first verse part, the track gets faster and remains in mid-tempo for a short while alternating with the slower measured tempo. The faster parts of "Merciless Suffering" are supported by a few blast-beats. "Hung And Drawn" continues with the sluggish rhythm and devastating guitar riffs. The melodic framework is spine-chilling, and the guitar riffing goes together with the relentless double-bass drumming. "Hung And Drawn" is the official video release, and the YouTube link is provided below.

"Upon The Torture Rack" is the first fast track of the album for most of the playing time. The guitar riffs are very direct and aggressive, while the vocals are pretty monotone without any tonal shifts. The track switches constantly between fast and mid-tempo. The break includes a short but very contributing lead guitar solo. "Upon The Torture Rack" is one of my favorite album tracks. "Chamber Of Cruelty" goes back to the sluggish rhythm of the first tracks. The guitar riffing is punishing and the basslines are crushing. Once again, the vocals hardly include any tonal shifts. Halfway through the track, there is an abrupt switch in tempo and rhythm, leading into another cool lead guitar solo. "Sawblade Execution" is another fast track right from the start going into the verse part. The guitar riffs are simple, direct, and very aggressive. The choruses slow down to a measured tempo as well as the break. However, after the introduction of the break, there is another tempo switch for the short lead guitar solo. "Under The Scalpel" has a sluggish start with thunderous guitar riffs at a measured tempo. The melodies are blood-freezing. The lead guitars have short contribution right after the first verse part, while the main solo is right at the end of the track. "Crushed" is a head-banger. Introduced by powerful guitar riffs and crushing basslines, the track goes into the verse part at a measured tempo. The guitar riffing is slightly more playful compared to most tracks. The track includes one main twist in tempo, where the middle part is played at breakneck speed.

"Path Of Brutality" is introduced by a grim pre-lude, leading into thunderous guitar riffs, supported by the double-bass at measured tempo. The track is a monotone and sluggish journey with hardly any changes in rhythm, tempo, riffing, and vocals until the short break, where the fast lead guitar solo kicks in. "Grotesque Remains" starts at mid-tempo but goes quickly back to measured tempo with powerful riffs. There is a bit more versatility during the track, meaning more rhythm and tempo changes, a short lead guitar solo, and some twists in the drumming. However, the track goes finally back into the general album rhythm and there is a seamless transition to "As The Blade Swings Down", which is the final song of the album. The story is repetitive: sluggish rhythm at a measured tempo, simple thunderous guitar riffs, and a short lead guitar solo. The break abruptly switches to a crazy pace, but just for a very short while.

DYING REMAINS offer a promising debut album. "Merciless Suffering" is a bone-chilling delivery of traditional Death Metal. The guitar riffing is thunderous and punishing, but also simple and direct. Most tracks follow the same rhythm, tempo, and textures with a couple of twists and turns and an inclusion of short solos. However, there is a certain monotonicity throughout the album. The songwriting needs some improvements as I feel, many songs have potential for further development. The album is well produced. "Merciless Suffering" is a good full-length debut with room for improvement and Death Metal fans will like what they hear.