The Plague – Within Death
3 min read
Band: The Plague
Title: Within Death
Label: Bitter Loss Records
Release date: 30 April 2021
Country: Australia
Format reviewed: High-quality Digital Recording
If I had listened to this album blindly, I’d have said it was from an old school Swedish Death Metal band. Because that’s the feeling, after the first minute has passed -an ominous and spooky intro for “Mind Eraser”, the opener track-. Guitars and drums come in to kill, and then finally come to the vocals… Mike not only growls in some kind of tortured way, he can also do really good screams! And this is a very good point, for me.
The Plague is from Sydney, Australia; this band was formed in 2016, and in April 2017 they released their debut EP, “Mass Genocide”, which contains 5 tracks of Swedish-inspired Old School Death Metal, and I must say it’s a very good start. But “Within Death” is not only a continuation, it’s… better. Music is louder, more aggressive, better executed; there’s way more rage. These guys have put a lot of effort in this new release, and this is really noticeable.
In general, songs offer a nice variety in changing tempos, leading to headbang sometimes in a frantic way, some others more calmly, but hey try to stand still while listening to this album! Honestly, I couldn’t. “Slave to Addiction” for example, starts with blast beats and after half a minute has passed the song turns in a mid-tempo until the last minute, when it turns faster again and it ends in real madness.
“Effigy of the Rotten” is a great banger, it starts with a slow tempo and distorted guitars, but soon you are dragged to infectious riffs and those drums on fire!
The average song length is around three and a half minutes, which I find good. But with some exceptions: the third song, “Spawn of Monstrosity”, is the shortest one (not even a minute and a half long) and it’s a hurried kick ass! And the closer “Festering in Sickness” is the longest, but once you get knocked by the vocals (this man growls and screams like a dissociated psychopath!), the song is gone and you are craving for more.
I love when a band brings to my ears this well recognisable sound from the past, and for everyone who likes all ‘old school’ related things this is a really enjoyable listen. These guys are skilled, and “Within Death” is a solid album with clear production, full of infectious riffs and very good leads, accurate drumming, and that kind of vocals that will deeply pierce your ears.
“Within Death” will be released on 30 April 2021, so… be prepared for the Death Metal party. It’s a really good album, I give it 8/10 Sílvia
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