Undergang - Døden Læger Alle Sår [Dark Descent - 2015]Danish death merchants Undergang are back with their third release since 2010, Døden Læger Alle Sår, Dark Descent is has released Undergang's latest just in time for their European tour with Stargazer. Proving that old school, low, heavy death is always in season, Døden Læger Alle Sår punishes the listener slowly and deliberately. For fifty-one minutes, Undergang leads the journey through the lower reaches of grime and punishment. Opening up with the title track, Undergang wastes no time getting into business. Heavy guitars give way to a pummeling bass and drum ensemble that push forward with the guttural, low vocals. This low, menacing chug picks up and leads into "Jomfrublodbad." A stark difference from the opener's 1:42 attack, this beast chugs and pummels for over seven minutes. Low, throbbing bass dances behind an interesting and atypical drum pattern. Spread across different tempos and riffs, "Jomfrublodbad" is a heavy hitter for sure. Mixing up speeds is the approach of choice for the trio, and it definitely helps to keep the album interesting. Blistering sections of death frenzy opening up into sludgy breakdowns is a treat for the senses. The Incantation-esque "Lemlæstelsens Kunst" is a great example of what Undergang is capable of. A slow, drawn out first half erupts into a pummeling onslaught of grime and rotten sound (in a good way, of course). Undergang's roots are worn on their sleeves, whether its through slow, plodding Autopsy styled death or via some classic northern European tone. Døden Læger Alle Sår is mixed well enough that everything is audible and sounds great, but not too polished. The grim, filthy sound they desired has been kept, and the death metal spirit is kept very alive. Whether 1992 or 2015, Døden Læger Alle Sår is an engaging, low, heavy, grimy slab of death metal. Paul Casey
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