Formed in 2003, MASSIVE ASSAULT is a Dutch band that has varied influences from OBITUARY to AC/DC and SLAYER to PANTERA. The band says its music is "a perfect mix of "early nineties" Death Metal and D-beat/Crust with Hardcore Punk". The band released a demo in 2004    and followed that up with another demo in 2005 and an EP in 2006. Their first full-length album saw the light of day in 2009 entitled "Dystopian Prophecies".  A second studio album in 2012 was released called "Death Strike" followed by a split album with ENTRAPMENT. While the band takes on an aggressive persona of Death Metal, they make it quite obvious for their love of Swedish Extreme Music. In fact, the band also credits Floridian Death Metal bands that have influenced their sound just as much. The latest release "Mortar" has the band firing on all cylinders with their tight brutal sound.

The total runtime of this vicious album is just over 35 minutes. Nine incredible songs pieced together with absolute savagery. The opening track, "World Funeral" is replete with Old Scholl riffs and drumming that keeps up with the riffs every step of the way. The song provides a strong start to the album even though it starts a little sluggishly. "Cause Effect" is the next track that erupts and the song is very much an Old School Death Metal song. The lead solo on the track also adds to the layers of the track. In fact, almost all songs on the album follow a similar tempo that keeps the listener engrossed in the proceedings. Smack right in the middle of the album is the instrumental track "Original Sin". While the track is a competent one, I missed the growly vocals on this one. "Anger Overdrive" and "Frozen Hell" are two songs on the slight side and the album closes out with the strong track "Deranged Humanity".

The last few years have seen a flurry of bands adopting the Old School Death Metal sound and frankly, it is a trend that could very well last a few years. This band, however, have been at it since their inception in the early part of the century. And they haven't changed their sound much since. There are hints of SLAYER and several delightful Groove Metal passages in this album that is steeped in European Metal traditions. Plus they have killer artwork. This one is a definite recommend.