Putrevore brings together two figures from the Death Metal world.
Formed in 2004 (under the name Deadbreath) by Rogga Johansson (guitar/bass, Dead Sun, Ribspreader, Paganizer, Eye of Purgatory, Revolting, Mecascavenger…) and Dave Rotten (vocals, Avulsed, Christ Denied, Holycide, Yskelgroth…), the band called on Thomas Ohlsson (Dead Sun, Stass, House by the Cemetery…) in 2025 to bring their fifth album, Unending Rotting Cycle, to life.
When it comes to Death Metal, these guys know what they’re talking about: one from Sweden, where he is involved in a staggering number of projects, cultivating his violent sound often accompanied by the aforementioned drummer, and the other from Spain, who is considered one of the major players in extreme underground music, whether playing in bands or managing structures (including the project’s label, Xtreem Music). Bringing these two heavyweights together can only result in one thing: quality riffs, scathing or disturbing melodies, but also wild roars that fill these waves of rage at varying speeds on these nine tracks for a little over half an hour of brutality. Between Brutal Death and Old School tones, the musicians have no trouble getting us headbanging without reinventing the genre, stringing together crushing rhythms and respecting the codes of brutality, sometimes offering dark harmonics as on No Mourning the Grace or with a touch of groove on Unending Rotting Cycle, the eponymous track. Special mention goes to the final double feature Cult of the Tentacle, which seems to be the climax of heaviness, totally opposite to The Cradle Replaced by the Grave, the last track, which generously offers us a touch of melancholy at the beginning before letting itself be corrupted by the usual sounds.
Putrevore is fairly low-key, but Death Metal fans know why: the band members’ extremely busy schedules. However, each album is very well received, and it will be no different for Unending Rotting Cycle, which gives us our necessary and beloved dose of violence.
85/100
