When one speaks about a classic Death Metal approach, it's good to remember that the concept of something 'pure' is just a hypocrite way of thinking, because purity in music (and in other matter of daily concern) can't be reached. It means that even keeping both feet on classic forms of playing the genre, but keeping an eye in the future, using different elements and features to make something new and personal. And the artillery of the German Death Metal onslaught called SOUL GRINDER is here to show it, turning years and brains into dust with "Anthems of the Abyss", their second album. Brutal, aggressive and nasty, it can be called classic, but never Old School, because the trio prefers to use some elements of Death Metal after the middle of the 90's to unleash a destructive storm of musical aggressiveness, but always with a refined talent in some arrangements and in some extreme Metal hooks heard (pay attention to "Insidious Resurrection" and its sets of guitar riffs and rhythms, as the keyboards parts and snarls of the vocals on "The Soul's Mirror"), and even some Thrash/Death metal elements.

The band isn't redefining Death Metal limits, but using their own ideas to make music as they want, without compromise with anything else that isn't their musical ideas. Maté  "Balrogh"  Balogh  (Balrogh Recordings)  and  Jan  Resmer (Silenced  Soul  Records) , members of the band, are the ones who sign the sound production of "Anthems of the Abyss", and it brings to the songs a massive weight and aggressiveness, but always in a form that can be understood without problems. And the choice for the instrumental tunes is wise, improving the band's brutality, but allowing a defined expression.

This album is truly a massacre for the fans of the genre, and it leaves no spaces for complains, because the trio created a mature album, indeed. And for the lazy ones who can hear and absorb one album on the first listen, the right choice for a first ride on "Anthems from the Abyss" are the title track (what amazing rhythmic contrasts, creating a brutal set of hooks based on bass guitar and drums), "Insidious Resurrection" (besides it can seem a simple Death Metal song for some, pay attention in some refinements on the guitar riffs and arrangements), "The Soul's Mirror" (another very good moment with contrasts between fast and slow parts, using wisely the backing vocals to improve some moments, and what lovely snarls and grunts, especially contrasting with the keyboards' arrangements), "Supreme Enemy" and "I am the Silencer" (these guys knows how to contrast the bitter aggressiveness of their instrumental parts with some terror-like keyboards' moments, and what lovely hooks can be found in both songs), "From the Nether Realm" (a fast and furious song, with very good drumming), and "Spirit's Asylum". But the entire album is simply excellent!

If you're a Death Metal fan, and want a new experience, play "Anthems to the Abyss" at the loudest volume possible and pay respect to SOUL GRINDER.