BRUTALLY DECEASED

If you're going to play old school death metal, then it makes sense to call your band BRUTALLY DECEASED. And if you're going to emulate the best in old-school
Swedish death metal then it stands to reason that you'd take your cues from the almighty DISMEMBER. As evidenced by MORBIDER's "When Darkness Returns" and now BRUTALLY DECEASED's "Dead Lovers' Guide" it doesn't take a brain surgeon, much less a music critic, to figure out that these Czechs worship at the altar of the early Stockholm scene. Even better for fans of the style, "Dead Lovers' Guide" is a superb tribute to the beloved works of the Swedish greats.

Go ahead and deduct points for the lack of originality and while you're at it take a few shots at the long line of SLAYER, INCANTATION, and CELTIC FROST/HELLHAMMER clones too. When a band is considered a style leader it is inevitable that followers in those sizeable footsteps will come out of the woodwork, but only the sincerest flatterers will make albums you'll want to own. Such is the case with the DISMEMBER/CARNAGE worship of BRUTALLY DECEASED's "Dead Lovers' Guide". The case is an open and shut one, as the album offers nine tracks of up-tempo Stockholm rumble 'n buzz that is played with all the heart and soul of the original masters. And damn does it sound good, right down to a Davos Records Studio (Czech Republic) recording that is nearly identical to the Sunlight Sound. Any mystery about the band's influence is obliterated from the opening notes of "Lustful Sodomy In The House Of God". Those patented guitar melodies are unmistakable. And when BRUTALLY DECEASED groove they do so with tank-division force, as heard on both the title track and "A Life Once Aborted". Extra kudos goes to the act for the stop/start riff section of "Blissful Desecration" during which the distorted bass line bursts and crackling drum fills are guaranteed to straighten the neck hairs. What the hell, might as well close the album with a cover of DISMEMBER's "Override Of The Overture", right?

If a qualification must be made, it is that "Dead Lovers' Guide" is an album targeted to diehard fans of the Stockholm sound. Those outside of that circle and/or with distaste for derivation in any form will be sorely disappointed. So how can anything that feels this good be so bad? BRUTALLY DECEASED do the style justice and give the world yet another good example of old school Swedish style death metal. If you don't own albums from the Swedish progenitors, then by all means start with those, but keep "Dead Lovers' Guide" in mind once you've decided that you just can't get enough.