This Northern Ireland quartet love old school death metal, as do I. In todays over clinical and saturated death metal scene, Overoth are a breath of fetid air. The hugely dense sound of the opener is quickly followed by the bludgeoning old school mid 90s detonation of monstrous proportion that is “Suffering Of The Detained”. The short sharp snare blast never over stays its welcome as the great groove infused mid section is punctuated with rapid fire thrash style riffing. The leads are typically fast but retain an air of control. The title track continues with a very fast initial blast before launching into a thudding death metal crunch laced with power and brutality. “Oath Of Flesh” starts with a chopping thrash riff which paves the way for the battering bass drum work. The ability to mix metallic muscle with groove and rhythm is not easy but Overoth do it exceptionally well even if you’ve heard much of the riffing and structures before. “Thanatos Rise” offers the first glimpse of a different direction with its doom death approach at first, which is relatively short-lived but equally as effective, especially when it resurfaces mid way through the song. The demonic growling fits the music superbly without resorting to indecipherable nonsense as the bellowing spews forth relentlessly. The MCD ends with a beast-like bellow that starts “Lords Of Desolation” which sees more of the thrash riffing and snapping snare work hinted at earlier. The pace of all the songs fit well and even when the Slayer riffing and lead work makes an appearance it is relevant and fitting. Anyone with a penchant for old style death metal that is packed with dense riffing and flattening drum work would be wise to check these guys out.
- Martin Harris