NECROPHILIAC is a Death Metal band from Southern Spain that was active in the year 1988 and 1993 and has reformed in 2016. Spain is known for its Death/Grind bands (MACHETAZO, HAEMMORAGE) and I don't know many Spanish old-school Death Metal bands other than AVULSED, so NECROPHILIAC is interesting to me just for that reason alone. The band has been quite productive, besides their 1992 full-length debut "Chaopula - Citadel of Mirrors" they've six other releases (one compilation and five demos). I'm sure that knowing more about the band's history could be interesting, but there isn't much information available online. But I have no doubt that this release will make more people interested in the band and more interviews will appear soon in the Metal press.

I would describe the sound of NECROPHILIAC's latest album as classic. It doesn't have the filthy, cavernous old-school Death Metal sound that has been so popular in the recent years (I mean all those ENTOMBED and INCANTATION worshiping bands that have sprung up in the past decade or so), nor does it sound particularly modern. The influence of the three early DEATH albums is undeniable, but some of the leads and riffs remind me also of post-"Spiritual Healing" DEATH. There are many atmospheric, doomy, mid-tempo moments with an ASPHYX or AUTOPSY vibe. Speaking of ASPHYX, a comparison to another famous Dutch band - PESTILENCE - also isn't inapt I think. The comeback album is quite ambitious - it has 9 songs, many of which are over six minutes long. The total play time is 55 minutes long, which is a lot for a Death Metal album.

The opener "Piper Leading Innocents" has a slow opening and a long buildup.  Overall, the song is doomy and atmospheric, there are some really nice DEATH-inspired leads. "Hunting Humans" shifts between slower, doomy and explosive sections, and there are atmospheric breaks with beautiful, melodic leads. "Magma of Flesh (Beasts of the Earth)" is overall aggressive and explosive, but has an atmospheric middle section, the transition from the middle section to the final, aggressive section is nicely done - this part has a strong latter-day DEATH vibe, the backbeat and riffs sound really cool. I mention these the first three songs because they sound great, unfortunately as the album continues, there isn't much that stands out, which becomes a problem when you listen to a 55 minutes long Death Metal album. And the eight plus minutes long songs feel a bit directionless - is it really necessary to have a fake ending and then go on for other two minutes like in the final song (the title track)?  That being said, I'd still recommend the album, I like the sound and the execution. It's an album with excellent material on it, but it suffers from a lack of focus - it's enjoyable, just not a much as it could be. Give this album a shot, it's good throwback Death Metal.