Nekrodawn “Sculpted by Torture”
Band: Nekrodawn
Title: Sculpted by Torture
Label: Legions of Bane (band’s label)
Release date: May 31st, 2024
Country: Sweden
Format reviewed: High-Quality Digital Recording
Nekrodawn is a quite new band formed in 2022, and their members are:
-Jonas Kjellgren (vocals, guitars); he was the founding member back in the day. As Jonas said in the interview that I did with him a few weeks ago, he really likes to start bands, so yeah, now the Metal world has Nekrodawn.
-Henrik Axelsson (drums)
-Johan Jansson (bass)
-Mika Lagrén (guitars)
These 4 fine gentlemen are/have been in several other bands such as Ironmaster, Scar Symmetry, Centinex, Grave, The Crown, Carnal Forge, Facebreaker, and the list goes on… So, their skills as musicians are undeniable. I can assure you, be ready to enjoy the next minutes at its maximum, for they unleash all their weapons to make “Sculpted by Torture” a hell of a Death Metal album.
This album is crushing, with a blackened tone, not even a minute has passed and you can already say “yeah, this is pure evil, fire, hell, damnation, it’s jaw dropping Death Metal!” Because it’s played with mastery, Old School style but with something more “bestial” going on. “Emancipation from Defilement” is the first track and it left me breathless: the global sound is b-r-u-t-a-l. Drums seem to smash your brain with no mercy, guitars and bass sound dark, delivering nasty n’gnarly riffs and wrapping the monstrous vocal work… Hey, these guys have gained me already!
“Raging Tempest Arise” is, indeed, like a tempest in itself. Starting with that guitar spitting an evil tremolo, drums join quickly and set a steady pace with plenty of cymbals smashed, and the other guitar and bass filling every part of the audible space with a menacing sound, I feel surrounded by an overwhelming and oppressive violent ambiance. It’s something dark and evil at the same time. And vocals, sometimes are a burst of fury, and all the time deliver an insane work, both at screams and at growls… Hard to regain sanity after this, my brain cells are totally burned by the most evil fire.
“Sacred Termination” follows, and it is in contrast with the fast pace delivered through the previous 4 minutes and a half. In this song, drums are set in a more slow tempo, and if you enjoyed the vocals so far, you’ll easily go nuts with this track, ‘cause Jonas seems to be a very mad bartender without his tip, armed with a rusty ax dripping blood. This is what comes to my mind after his first growl and the following brutal scream. All the song through he delivers an incredible display of dark and monstrous vocals. And the guitars… damn, these riffs! Totally infectious, along with the sharp solo! They all entered my brain and are still there.
The song “Obsessed with Fatality” has a double effect on me: it motivates me both to plant my feet firmly on the ground and start headbanging violently, or to raise a fist in the air and shake it non-stop, trying to sing along the whole song (but yeah, it’s Death Metal, so… I suck at it). It’s demolishing in its entirety, not the fastest song but its pace is like a bulldozer. That’s it.
If you want a fast song, then go for “Origin of Terror”, a total headbanger, an insane blast! with a break that makes you wait eagerly for the kick ass remaining of the song. Highly technical, let me add; because high speed is not at odds with technique… But, do yourself a favour and don’t skip a single song in this album, better don’t do that in any album or you’ll miss “something” from their essence, songs were put in a determinate order for some reason…
The closing theme, “Sculpted by Torture”, has an overflowing amount of devilry, I can feel the flames devouring what’s left of my sanity… because of the infernal riffs; the devastating drums, constant and relentless; the wicked vocals; the low tuned rhythmic section… because of everything.
Oh and the icing on the cake is the horrifying (in the good sense, of course) artwork, done by Nun Ehf… totally fitting!
“Sculpted by Torture” was recorded in Black Lounge Studios, owned by Jonas Kjellgren, and has been released through Legions of Bane, a total “underground boy room label” by Jonas himself. So, I guess this is a special album for this versatile man that, in case you don’t know, he can just as easily shift to Country music as he plays Death Metal. He’s this cool.
This big monster of an album deserves a 10/10 from me Sílvia
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10/10 Immortal Classic
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