Coffin Rot is part of what’s already the wave in modern Death Metal. You know, retro-Death Metal that’s finally getting the production it deserves. However, the band strikes a strange spot, leaning heavily on Cannibal Corpse and Entombed, which makes it at least intriguing. Yet, in this year filled with wacky old-school extreme Metal, it’s going to take actual effort to impress my jaded heart. So, let’s welcome this crusty bag of moldy meat (Dreams of the Disturbed) and give it a chance, shall we? It’s okay! We’ll put some spices on it to make it taste good (don’t actually do that!).
What can I say? Dreams is exactly what I expected from its cover art: unforgiving, aggressive, and gross in all the right ways. There are some interesting moments of peace within this orderly storm that give the album a bit more texture, but overall it’s a perceptual assault. Thanks to nice production, it doesn’t feel numbing. Everything is clear, and yet it doesn’t sound horribly flat. It’s like eating a meal that tastes great, and somehow, it won’t give us horrible diarrhea later. That sounds impossible, but Coffin Rot can brag about achieving that. I feel the influence of cheap horror films, but just like Hooded Menace, it doesn’t sound cheap at all.
I’ve talked a lot about production, but a lot of Dreams’ identity comes from its vocal work. It’s ultra-heavy and relentless, with a bass that always stays tasty. The songwriting overall kept me interested, which is hard considering how by-the-numbers cavernous Death Metal can become. If you like your music extreme and perfect for Halloween, Dreams might work for you. There’s nothing too pretentious about it. The album is short and has almost no filler, so you can give it two or three spins in no time. That’s always a plus in my book. But there are also things to worry about—it’s time to fear!
It’s not that there’s anything wrong with this album, but aside from being really enjoyable, the innovation is limited. It feels almost like a tribute to another era of Death Metal. That’s fine by me, but I wouldn’t want you to think this is more “meta” than “retro”. It’s fully retro, but saved by solid production and good songwriting. I hate when this happens! The album is messed up in the way I like it, but because I’ve listened to decades of Death Metal, I end up comparing it to all my previous encounters in the cave. Either way, this release is fun.
So, if you just want Death Metal that depicts heinous crimes and oozes nostalgic gore, then Coffin Rot has crafted something crusty and disgusting from the tomb. Otherwise, I’d suggest you remain cautious. This is an album for diehards of the style, or for people like me, who just have way too much time to listen to Metal (oh! Poor me!). Alright, time to sign off before the writing gets more necrotic! See you soon!
Label: Maggot Stomp
Release date: 20 September, 2024
Website: https://www.facebook.com/coffinrot/
Country: USA
Score: Acceptable gore, or 3.5/5.0
Metal Eclipse Reviews 