A death metal band name, a black metal title, and a hardcore punk-style album art and runtime. What the hell is going on with Putridarium? For starters, they're a death doom metal trio hailing from Germany, and this very short EP, "NATVM AD MORTEM," is their seventh release, the first in two years. I wonder what's happened since 2024 -- it surely couldn't have taken this long to produce a two-song EP that barely reaches thirteen minutes. Death doom is a genre that benefits from sprawling compositions and drawn-out bouts of atmosphere, which makes me question whether Julian, Giona, and Lukas can pull off such feats in such a short time.

Is it really an EP if it's only twelve minutes and fifty-six seconds long? I'd consider this a single with a b-side, but the parameters of what's considered an "extended play" nowadays are practically non-existent. Also non-existent is the record's memorability, which sucks, as it hosts some solid death doom metal. Putridarium dances the line between plodding and dynamic sounds, whereas "Schmerzfresser" sees the band exploring a wider variety of instrumental techniques, featuring unorthodox elements such as blast beats, high(er)-register vocals, and an all-around more lively feel, and "Death Metal Warriors" traditionally sticks to slower tempos. lower gutturals, and a persistent mood of despair.

"Death Metal Warriors," the "b-side," is by far the sturdier song. Mike Perun (vocalist-bassist of Cianide, a band of similar styles) is featured on vocals, adding another layer of depth to the track. The vocals, both Mike's and Giona's, are mournful, gurgly, and perfectly fitting to provide the old-school death doom sound. "Schmerzfresser," pain flexor in English, leans further into basic death metal, but it's still a solid song. The trouble I'm having with this record isn't the music, it's frustration at the amount of it. Putridarium clearly can play solid music, and they've produced full-length records in the past, so why settle for two songs and call it a day? My theories suggest it's simply easier, as there's enough material to be put on vinyl and sold. I say the band should disregard "NATVM AD MORTEM" and focus on collective enough goodness to pur forth a proper, meaty release. There's hope for Putridarium.

There's not much more to write about. I covered the two tracks, I told you why it's underwhelming despite its admirable content, and now I'm telling you that the review is over.