SPECTRAL MORTUARY

The guys at Mighty Music like a certain kind of death metal — they like deep, guttural vocals, they like intense blast beats, they like churning riffs and rhythms, and they like vein-busting intensity. Before the label went on hiatus in 2003, one of their biggest signings was INIQUITY, a band that broke absolutely no new ground but exemplified all those traits in excess, with awesome results. Well, it's a new era, the label is reborn… who will take that "really unoriginal but still awesome death metal band from Denmark" title?

SPECTRAL MORTUARY seems more than willing — their songs are overstuffed with chunky riffs and nonstop drumming barrages, their vocals are deep and harsh, and — outside from the odd bit of melody wedged into songs like "Weapons", more for breathing space than any sense of aesthetics — the whole affair is like being buried under a truckload of bricks. It's like these guys can't — physically can't — let up on the listener. "Among Corpses" starts out with a simple one-two thrash beat, but by the end of the verse, there's more kick drum, fluttering hi-hat hits, you name it — leave an inch of sonic space open and they'll find some kind of sound to spackle it with.

That's not necessarily a bad thing — sometimes you want progression and atmosphere, sometimes you want hooks a-plenty, but there are times you just want to be beaten half to death by a metal record. "From Hate Incarnated" is that kind of record — it's dense and unforgiving, while remaining controlled and musical. These guys owe quite a bit to the American death metal sound, but what they lack in identity they more than make up for in sheer bludgeoning fury.

"From Hate Incarnated" could have just as easily come out when Mighty Music was in its original heyday — they raise no bar, they push no envelope, and if you're tired of death metal as usual, you'll have no use for them. But if there's still more room in your life and on your record shelf for solid, unrelenting, thoroughly brutal death metal, SPECTRAL MORTUARY is a band to get acquainted with. Quite impressive as a debut, and ferocious as a statement of intent.