People always think that to play an Old School Metal genre some personal touches aren't necessary. In reality, it's the opposite: to play such genres, to have personality is something required, because no one needs a copy (no matter what a personal opinion and 'argumentum ad hominem' say). No one needs a new BLACK SABBATH, or MOTÖRHEAD, JUDAS PRIEST or any other, what means that you must be yourself. This lesson seems to be assimilated by the Australian trio SARCOPHAGUM, as heard on the EP "Conduits to the Underworld".

One can say that their music is a form of Death/Black Metal or solely Death Metal, but with a clear Old School insight. But even with such classic sheath, their musical work is unique, binding many Old School Death Metal influences but with a personal insight guiding everything. It's brutal, aggressive and nasty, always bearing a blackened outfit, and even evading the excessive instrumental technique on their songs, there are rich and extreme arrangements on these songs. And be prepared, because the energy they unleash is amazing. Aaron Worboys took care of the recording and mixing (along with the recordings that were done at Adversary Studios), while the mastering was left in the hands of Greg Chandler. It's brutal, crude and gross, but always making things sound defined and with the right tunes. It's like an update of the early recordings heard during the Second Wave of Death Metal advent.

"Pits of Hate" is a solid and Old School Death/Black Metal song, based on extreme tempos and solid rhythms, but with bass guitar and drums giving the right rhythmic support. On "Netherengines", the band summons a brutal and oppressive set of tempos, creating hypnotic and hooking ambiences based on darkened morbid guitar riffs, and what great contrasts between fast and slow parts. And on "Between Two Worlds", they really create an Old School Death Metal where the hooks are impossible to resist to, and what good grunts in a similar way to Ross Dolan. "Conduits to the Underworld" is a very good first coming, and it presents SARCOPHAGUM in a great way to the world. And let's hope that a full album is in their plans.