Known as "Sweden's Finest" Death Metal band on their Facebook we have WOMBBATH which I keep by accident keep calling them Woombath, but that's another story. "Downfall Rising" is their first full length album since 1993's "Internal Caustic Torments" which I have yet to listen to but after listening to "Downfall Rising" I am convinced that "Internal Caustic Torments" is also a killer. Other editions are Eps or Demos.

As a huge Death Metal fan, I already welcomed WOMBBATH with pleasure and I was proud to be asked to review this gem. By the band title alone it was obvious this would be a Death Metal band, and from what I have been listening to, wow. I'm blown away by the sheer intensity and brutality this great band give off.

Like with most Death Metal this album can seem very short but it is still quite extensive. Most Death Metal leaves me wanting more and more so it was easy for me to repeat this one a good few times, before deciding to review. And oh my, it was worth it. Fans of this genre will be left thinking, "am I in Heaven or Hell? Hell I think, and it's good!!"

Originally formed under the name SEIZURE but the band changed that name after learning of another band with the same name, while I find this okay,  there are 2 DEATH DEALER bands and they haven't changed, but originality is always cool.

Starting off with one of those "quiet" introductions giving you that indication that the carnage will hit you in the face with a massive, aggressive headbang, we enter the fray with "Under Apokalypsens Svarta Vingar" which I've honestly no idea what that means but I'm guessing it's something apocalyptical, the sheer brutality begins and quickly becomes an addicting piece of work. Everything is just top-notch, Death Metal quality.

From crushingly brutal vocals in "Fall Of The Weak" (which quickly became one of my favourite tracks) to just pure brutality in the instrumentation which has rhythm, power, speed and technique all in one package.

"Paid In Blood" was also one of my favourites, further ongoing into an apocalyptic cataclysm of Thrashing Death Metal, I believe we are in the goodness of Hell at this point. Ending the album concludes with a slow instrumental closing but still keeping up with the melodic Death Metal variety to end the album making you feel like a powerful thunder-house of steel. "Abandoned Furthermore" leaves you wanting more in the long run.

Arisen from, pretty much the dead after a 22 years hiatus, the band have come back with vengeance, to deliver (hopefully) more fine records like this one. "Downfall Rising" was a fine return to resurrect themselves into form and I seriously hope they stick together this time around.

While most members are new, one could argue this is just a new band rebooted in modern age sense hence the changing of their band name and hiatus but who really cares about that? We are given a great album of intense magnitude hiatus or not, they are back, and delivering the steel harder than ever. I will certainly be keeping an eye out on this band in the future.

Bottom line, if you clicked on this review then no doubt you have a taste for Death Metal and are looking for something new, definitely try this band out, first time I heard them until now and I'm glad I got the chance to review this great album and band.

I have to give this album the ranking that is...

MASTERPIECE.