So, DEATH COURIER, from Greece, have a new album out as we speak. It’s called Necrotic Verses (Transcending Obscurity Records) and quite frankly I think it’s pretty goddamn good. I thought that from the very first listen a while ago, and I still maintain that it is. This is Death Metal firmly rooted in the old school vein, but with the right modern flourishes. The band walks that line between Brutal and Technical Death metal at times, but really they are more about delivering the knockout punch than anything else. Listen to these tunes and you’ll get that.
Right away “Necrotic Verses” and “Mourning Ecstacy” showcase the fact that these guys mean business. They will not be denied! “As Heaven Blends With Rot” starts out like the water you boil when you’re making Ramen noodles, then it kicks in, all fists flying, and “When Death Fits to Skin” continues the sonic beating. “Pillars of Murk” was a favorite from the first spin, and it still is. The melody and metallic groove simply soar. The band truly comes alive on this track. Short and sweet is the order of the day for “Morsimon Imar,’ but it gets the job done, doesn’t it?
“Immune to Burial” is another winner from note one. It’s got a pummeling intensity, yet still has a killer melody to it. Immediately after that comes “Visceral Slice,” another one I highly enjoyed. Closing things is “Remnants,” the longest track on the disc with a running time of just over six minutes. It builds and builds layer upon layer before coming down on your skull with great vengeance and furious anger. All told I really liked this DEATH COURIER record and I think you will, too. Pick up Necrotic Verses today, you’ll be glad you did!
STANDOUT TRACKS: “Pillars of Murk”, “Immune to Burial”, “Visceral Slice”, “Necrotic Verses”, “Remnants”
RATING: 8.5/10
