Necrolatry Records - 2024
6.5/10
A few years ago, the Malaysian death metallers GraveHammer snagged my attention with their Voices From The Grave EP, presenting a sound quite grating and hoarse. For its short run, it made for a strong sandblast of grit and grime, however last year they came through with a full-length that somehow missed my radar. Necrotized Mortal is the name, fitting quite well for the sound, as this earsplitting sensation was extended to the new format. In other words, the nasty and grating finish that’s covered in burred shards stays quite apparent.
In fact, I’d go as far as saying that there’s zero step-up in production, which could help or hurt depending on what one seeks. On one hand this gives GraveHammer the ability to stand apart from their peers, opting for a blend of the Swedish buzz in the riffs coated in lots of rust. It fits even more that the vocals come through with such a scratchy snarl that border on blackened shriek, even further stomping on the listener while they're already down. Managing to maintain some semblance of rhythm amidst all of this is certainly worth acknowledging, let alone solos still appearing from time to time.
However, I would be lying if I said it really made for a great listening experience. While competent and different, the proverbial unbreathable air can almost be so tough to take in that it's distracting from the music itself. There's also not a lot of standout in the actual songwriting either, so even if things were just a tad easier to digest, I wouldn't have much (if anything) to highlight. The short runtime of seven tracks in thirty minutes plus a Bathory cover certainly allows some forgiveness where this is concerned, but note the word "some."
When I listened to the EP a few years back, I somewhat predicted that this delivery would only work well for a short blast of songs, and it seems like I was correct. Necrotized Mortal does precisely what it sets out to do, and does indeed capitalize on what the Southeast Asian outfit had laid out prior, but it may just not be for me. Those seeking out an unlovable set of horrid riffs with rusty vocals and a musty atmosphere should look no further. Those seeking compelling songwriting or replay value may want to continue their search elsewhere.
