ninehertz

One of my bugbears listening to copious amounts of metal releases is having to put up with pointless intro tracks, typically on black metal releases - although death metal has its own sinners here too. A minute long shriek and stock graveyard "spooky" backing noise presumably to set the mood - even though we know what's likely to follow, and yet you find this crime on about a third of the extreme metal demos you hear. Save us and cut it out. The relevance here? Extinguished have not only butt the trend with an actually enjoyable Intro, but an Outro too, which I didn't know was possible - on a five track EP no less.

This is twisted death metal, and the fact it's on Caligari Records means you pay attention. I know of no greater barometer of international underground death metal than this label, routinely advocating typically short EP or demo releases of all strains of DM for us to uncover. Extinguished are from Finland, and as such it's hard not to be swayed into comparisons with the gods of that scene, to the wild and unhinged outpourings of Demilich and Demigod. Truth is, its not just a lazy national comparison either - it has a lot of the same murky, messed up, thick and sticky guitar tones of their forefathers.

The beautifully titledMesmerizing Placenta, first song proper, is testament to that, a rampaging, messy and excellent number. There's an Autopsy feel elsewhere; it is all gruesome and grimy, just as death metal should be in my eyes. This is a short and sweet blast of proper death metal, and a perfect encapsulation of the service Caligari provide in opening your ears to such filth.