COFFIN MULCH Spectral Intercession CD

The highly anticipated debut full-length by this U.K. band. Hailing from Scotland, Coffin Mulch formed in 2018 and quickly set to work on their debut demo, "Coffin Mulch", which was released a year later. Two years later came the "Septic Funeral" EP, both of which have garnered widespread acclaim in the Death Metal underground. Although undeniably a Death Metal band, the quartet come from a diverse musical background, having played in a variety of different bands throughout the years, but started Coffin Mulch to play old school, heavy and poun-ding Death Metal influenced by late 80's / early 90's gods like Entombed, Autopsy, Massacre, Death and Bolt Thrower. They're all punks at heart, though, and the DIY ethic and aesthetic is just as important to them as the tunes. And "tunes" they indeed have across their full-length debut, "Spectral Intercession". With gutted tones just on the right side of raw and a horrifying intro to set the scene, Coffin Mulch lurch and crunch forward with omi-nous intent. Each of the album's eight tracks offers ample proof of the potency of traditional, turn-of-the-90's Death Metal, especially so, when it's done with this much passion and intensity. Indeed, no matter the tempo em-ployed (and quite often, the band stick to a headbanging gallop), Coffin Mulch make you feel every mangled riff, every ragged drum-hit, every tortured tonsil... The songwriting may be simple, but it's not simplistic, and it's their execution that truly puts over "Spectral Intercession". Nevertheless, they're not afraid to put a little twist here and there, whether it's a fleeting (and subtly employed) guitar effect or an intentionally askew transition, and the rare guitar solo really hits with soul-searing aplomb. Or witness the eerie, climactic closer "Eternal Enslave-ment," where a doomed morass opens up and swallows the listener whole. There's no shortage of "old school" Death Metal records these days, but it's rare to find one with such personality that's unselfconscious and not bela-bored. Coffin Mulch find that sweet spot with "Spectral Intercession"