Metalcatto
Paganizer is like a shark. In the sense that after millions of years, it has changed very little. And why would you when you play Old School Swedish Death Metal? However, even I’ve started to wonder if the band can break the mold for once. Given that its last release wasn’t that long ago, my hopes aren’t exactly high for As Mankind Rots to deliver change, but let’s see!
Well, the first few tracks had me almost fooled, but no, this is still the same old Paganizer doing what it does best. Throwing chainsaw-like riff after another with nasty vocals that could perfectly fit in any filthy bar in Västervik (if you know, you know). Having said that, there’s an attempt to be less melodic and more brutal. So mankind is really rotting here in terms of how decadent everything sounds. Yes, it’s rough.
Paganizer has tuned down the Entombed sound this time, which is kind of nice, because sometimes it’s hard to tell Vomitory, Crawl, and this band apart. They shopped in the same instrument store, for sure. So I do appreciate that As Mankind Rots is changing some of those details. I guess it’s time for me to tell you where you should watch your back when going through this knife fight.
You see, it’s strange. Paganizer hasn’t done anything wrong, but even I can get tired of having the same food every day. Even if it’s a chocolate cake covered in whipped cream with enough sugar to kill ten diabetic patients with one piece. I’d love to see if the band can do something else. It doesn’t have to be widely different, but maybe just some other type of Death Metal? Nothing crazy, just mix things up. Don’t let me know what’s coming next!
So, if consistency is what you want, but with a few tweaks here and there, As Mankind Rots is exactly what you need. There’s enough new work to get you interested, but not too many changes to make the neurodivergent crowd upset. To me, it seems clear that despite the high musical proficiency from the guys in Paganizer, they’re playing music that makes them have fun, without deeper pretensions or snobbish goals. And that’s why I really hope one day I can listen to something like this in a crappy bar in some forgotten city in Dalarna or in Närke. Like seriously, who lives in Närke? Do they even have internet there? This whole review was an assault on the Swedish heartland.
Label: XTREEM MUSIC
Release date: February 5, 2026
Website: https://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com/album/as-mankind-rots
Country: Sweden
Score: 3.0/5.0
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