Embalmer — Emanations From the Crypt

Ohio death metal band Embalmer is pretty well known, despite the dearth of output over its long career. Numerous breaks haven't kept the band down, and their follow up to 2006's 13 Faces of Death shows the band's return to their brutal roots. Closer in tone to their 1995 Relapse debut There Was Blood Everywhere, Emanations From the Crypt is a thick, dark slice of death that should please your ears and dampen your spirits.

Emanations From the Crypt starts off pummeling the listener and never relents. "Dead Female Stalker" is an old school, vile slice of death, with speed and brutality teaming up to remind the world why well done death will always entice. Frantic and disgusting, the riffs streak a greenish, vomit tinge in an almost synesthesia-like fashion. Hellish drums pummel and pound in an equally frantic pace and keep the listener pinned down by Embalmer's assault. The vocals play deep into the mix like that voice behind you on a dark night, beckoning you to turn around. Eschewing the modern trend of hyper speed, triggered drums and more technical guitar leanings, Embalmer windmills along with fast, true drumming and well written, vile, lightning riffs. This is pure death, pure gore, pure vileness, and pure fun.

Having purchased Embalmer's debut over 20 years ago, I had always wondered what happened to them. Yeah, bands come and bands go, but their "Rotten Body Fluids" had something special about it, despite the terrible production. 13 Faces of Death flew under my radar, and, from what I've read, I'm glad it did. Emanations From the Crypt is exactly the follow up I wanted from Embalmer, and my 15 year old self would be very pleased with, what to my ears, is their second release.