This is a country boasting quality; if Swedish Death Metal is good, then it is really good! And by writing "Swedish Death Metal" we do not by any reason mean some IN FLAMES or DARK TRANQUILLITY or such stuff; when the early Swedish Death Metal altar gathered fiends like OBSCURITY, GRAVE, UNLEASHED, ENTOMBED, SÉANCE, SATANIC SLAUGHTER, CARNAGE, DISMEMBER, MERCILESS, NECROPHOBIC and (even early) THERION the Scandinavian skies were still morbid and sinister. This kind of emotion does INTERMENT offer in their long-awaited debut album, even if...

...the band is no newcomer to the 'true' Death Metal panorama. INTERMENT (formerly known as BEYOND) was born in 1988(!) and why they never released an - even self-financed - full album remains a mystery. With Johan Jansson (DEMONICAL REGURGITATE, CENTINEX) and John Forsberg surviving from - or re-ignating - the original lineup, INTERMENT leave behind the "Where Death Will Increase 1991-1994" demos compilation and focus on a full CD unveiling the classic (yeap, it does not have to be a band of endless studio/live albums and compilations to make it 'classic') Death Metal the (mainly) Swedish way. "Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy" has everything the traditional fan will eagerly devour. The titles in a tracklist give a first rotten good impression while the ferocious cover artwork presages the listener for the massacre lurking in.

After 22 years of existence, INTERMENT shows no signs of wear; the recipe is familiar and successful here, with relentless guitars raising horns up in a putrid low-key way. The riffing is malicious also bringing a doze of decay forth, plus there's a variety in the guitars themes you'll no way feel bored or listening to something repetitive. In addition, INTERMENT has succeeded in my opinion in dealing with the proper tempos in the rhythm section. Grind parts are out of the question here (omitting some parts in "Morbid Death"); blasphemous Thrash-and-beyond Metal speeds intermix with bang-along crawling pace bridges, a mixture with successful portion of each contributing in the eventual value of the album. The vocals, not to forget, play their own critical role with Johan keeping an eye on both his throat abilities and each song's atmosphere needs.

These guys know how to play, and they've additionally proceeded in a smart move. There's a teeny-weeny sample of more latter Scandinavian Death Metal which is no way altering the album's general scope but, in contrast, it efficiently places the total sound of the band in the basket of today's market. This has to do with a brief portion of the riffing plus the level of bass distortion throughout specific songparts. Still, the old-school putrid style of bands like GRAVE, UNLEASHED, DISMEMBER and (to an extent) BOLT THROWER/MORBID ANGEL is clearly visible in the ruinate solos and ironhanded growls in numbers like "Where Death Will Increase", "Eternal Darkness", "Sacrificial Torment" and "The Pestilence". You've been warned...

With 36 minutes of a non-pristine sound (and that's good!), INTERMENT and "Into The Crypts Of Blasphemy" sum it up to a lethal weapon against disbelievers of old-school Death Metal's significance. From the past comes the storm (remembered SEPULTURA's 187 obscure classic, huh - you may bring the "Schizophrenia" gem to mind) and this album is steamroller willing to crush your bones endlessly. Can't teach an old dog new tricks, right? Fuck yeah! This is the awakening of the dawn...and you better believe it.