The alarm has been sounded by Stillbirth!
2025 is the year when Lukas Swiaczny (vocals, Placenta Powerfist, Xavleg), Martin Grupe (drums, Diaroe, live for Xavleg), Lukas Kaminski (bass, Placenta Powerfist, Xavleg, Sijjeel, ex-Diaroe), Leonard Willi (guitar), and Szymon Skiba (guitar) sign with Reigning Phoenix Music for the release of their ninth album, Survival Protocol.
Existence Erased attempts to slow things down with an eerie sample, but the rhythm quickly hits us with a jerky approach and aggressive screams, although the heavy influences are quickly noticeable, particularly in the leads. Slam roots obviously remain predominant, as the final break attests, but Trapped In Darkness takes a slightly more haunting approach that quickly transforms into catchy heaviness. The sound reveals a certain melancholy, while Throne Of Bones offers more angsty nuances but also much more complex patterns sprinkled with almost constant rapid double kick, but Grindcore resurfaces during the most explosive moments. Violence continues with Apex Predator, which follows immediately after and offers groovy but massive riffs that don’t skimp on heaviness and patterns tailored for live performance, then Baptized In Blood returns to lighter tones before including furious saturation conducive to physical fury. The band returns to more old-school tones with Cult Of The Green and its touches of brutal death and sub-bass, but the track is fairly quick, quickly giving way to Sacrificial Slaughter, which also develops an interesting and welcome touch of technicality. There are also a few more dissonant passages, but the track ends in a fairly accessible way before giving way to The Survival Protocol, the eponymous track, which, in addition to continuing this polished approach, multiplies the moments of pure, jerky violence. The guttural final is a perfect example of this, but Kill To Rule breaks the mold with a fairly gentle intro, quickly overtaken by devastating saturation that offers us quite a few nuances, notably intoxicating harmonics and intriguing country touches that ultimately blend well with the rage.
By signing with Reigning Phoenix Music, Stillbirth has opened up musically, offering on Survival Protocol not only its usual Brutal/Slam Death, but also a more accessible and intriguing touch. To be continued!
80/100