Netherlands in the 90s became a great breeding place for Death Metal acts. As an ‘answer’ to what was happening on USA, UK and Sweden, bands as GOD DETHRONED, SINISTER, PESTILENCE, GOREFEST, ASPHYX and others spread their talons and took the scene by assault. It’s obvious that things didn’t stop with them, and once in a time new good names appear there. One fine name is of the quartet ECOCIDE, who is releasing their second album, “Metamorphosis”. The band works into a more traditional form into Death Metal, using some Thrash Metal hooks and elements as well. It reminds something done by DEATH on “Spiritual Healing” days, and follows the same tendency of PESTILENCE during the age between “Malleus Maleficarum” and “Consuming Impulse”.

The band shows a good technical work, many hooks and it’s not laying on the past (besides their music can easily be labeled as Old School Death/Thrash Metal without problems), showing a massive energy as well, but they need to improve a bit more in the future. It’s good, but they have potential to be excellent, it’s clear to the ears. The band called the responsibility to mix and master the songs as well, creating a massive and nasty sound, bearing the crude elements of the 90s in their sonority, but allowing the modern defined outfit (that is required) enter into the account as well. It’s brutal and savage, but no one can complain that can’t understand what the quartet musically delivers. And what the artwork of Costin Chioreanu for the cover is really excellent.

On the side of the songs, the potential of their musical work can be heard clearly on songs as “Metamorphosis” (a brutal Old School Death Metal song, based on strong and hooking guitar riffs and good rhythmic shifts), “Terminus” (here the Thrash Metal influences can be heard clearly due the technical refinement, but the work of bass guitar and drums is really heavy and expressive), “On the Shores of Madness” (a song that shows that they know to work on contrasts between slower moments with traditional Death Metal faster tempos), “Vortex Singularity” (this one depicts modern touches on some moments, with nasty grunts filling the spaces), and “The Flayed”. But they need to sharp in a better way their efforts.

For now, “Metamorphosis” is a good album that will seduce Old School Death Metal fans easily, but ECOCIDE is able to show more in the future.