BLOODBATH

BLOODBATH
THE FATHOMLESS MASTERY (2008)
320 KBPS

Arguably, The Fathomless Mastery is one of the most anticipated death metal records of year, partly due to the return of Mikael Åkerfeldt to vocal duties (which cancels out the loss of Dan Swano), and partly due to the fact that the bands two full length’s (2002s Resurrection Through Carnage and superb but slight step back and less homage-ish of 2004s Nightmares Made Flesh), were pretty much perfect death metal records. Well, add number three to that list of perfection, as The Fathomless Mastery, indeed in part to the return of Åkerfeldt, improves over the Peter Tägtgren led Nightmares Made Flesh and feels much more like the debut in pace, structure and presence.
Armed with the expected modernized Stockholm buzz and rumble as well as Åkerfeldt’s absolutely perfect growl, The Fathomless Mastery starts with the urgent and classically structured "At the Behest of Their Death" highlighting the bands perfect mix of classic, malevolent moodiness of (early) Entombed/Grave and Dismember inspired death metal flocked with just enough Floridian technicality and time changes to make it more than a pure homage. From there, tracks like "Process of Disillumination", churning standout "Mock the Cross", slicing "Treasonous", chunky "Devour the Feeble", classic mid song throes of "Earthrot" and other standout "Hades Rising" (the section at 3:00 is to die for) and perfectly atmospheric closing of "Wretched Human Mirror" deliver timeless structures and riffage and Åkerfeldt’s seems to be on a post Watershed catharsis unleashing some truly demonic vocals. His supergrpoup cohorts and primary song writers, Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia, Diabolical Masquerade, Bewitched), Swano replacement Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (21 Lucifers), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Witchery) all perform with a passion and precision that only veterans of the scene and lovers of the genre could do, managing to make the Stockholm sound come across with a new found intensity and tightness while still culling all the genre’s best traits.
On the very small down side, there is no sure fire, instant classic track a la "Like Fire", "Cry My Name" or "Eaten", but each of the 11 tracks are all damn fine in their own right and the album itself a superb display of death metal perfection that isn’t blast beats and breakdowns, just pure, honest riffs and memorable moments-just like it was in the early 90s. It’s Not quite up to par with Resurrection Through Carnage, but improves on Nightmares Made Flesh, and is ultimately a contender for my year end honors. Fathomless mastery indeed.

1 At the Behest of Their Death
2 Mock the Cross
3 Iesous
4 Wretched Human Mirror
5 Treasonous
6 Devouring the Feeble
7 Hades Rising
8 Slaughtering the Will to live
9 Earthrot
10 Process of Disillumination
11 Drink from the Cup of Heresy