Carnal Savagery - Graveworms, Cadavers, Coffins And Bones

Releasing full albums is a risky gamble for bands because usually the first one is strong but the 2nd feels weaker due to a rehashed sound, but Sweden’s Carnal Savagery are no strangers to this as it paid off back in 2022 for them and they’ve done it again in 2024. Earlier that year they released the still Entombed meets Dismember sounding Old School Death Metal release “Into the Abysmal Void” complete with that fuzzy sound, powerful vocals, and pounding drums. Still making their work very guitar and drum focused ever since 2020, the duo helmed by Mikael Lindgren on bass, guitar who used to be in the 90s band Cromlech, and drums alongside Mattias Lilja who was with him in Divine Souls pay tribute to the forefathers of the genre, crafting album after album that still has a home with Moribund Records. Late 2024 hit and now the latest release “Graveworms…” hit ears. Like some of the big bands out there like Cannibal Corpse or Deicide, the band tends to stick with the same formula album after album as it works for them, but also like those bands some might feel the sound gets a bit stale after five albums or more.

Thankfully, gambling pays off again. “Graveworms…” improves and continues where “Abysmal Void” left off. Over time Carnal Savagery has injected more and more groove and Melodic Death Metal elements into their music, sounding almost like At the Gates at times when considering a track like ‘Nailed to the Cross.’ It is a strong opener and a fast track, but for this particular album Carnal Savagery have reined it in a bit from their past sound, opting for mid to slow paced churners that are as melodic as they are infectious while still retaining their core sound. Tracks like ‘Death Triumphant’ are more the shining example of what the band is demonstrating here with that slow nod headbang pace but still sounding equally vicious. The guitars still have their fuzziness though and the drums are as thunderous as ever. Like a lot of Old School Death Metal styled bands due to relying on distortion to play a big part, the bass is still a bit lost. But, it definitely sounds like the band has upped their production overall trying to make it sounds lightly cleaner.

The vocals are the biggest improvement. Mattias has gone from the Grave styled rasp growl to a full-on guttural one, but still being discernible, bringing more of a Bloodbath debut album sound to the mix, and it sounds fantastic. With his voice nearly front and center it competes with the scathing groove from Mikael and just makes the record sound better altogether. Tracks like ‘Autopsied Alive’ showcase this best- again sticking with the slow to mid pace- but the sound is infectious and yet doesn’t feel like it is trying to compete with the inner elements. It might not be a pit starter, but shows the best marriage of a great headbanging track between Old School Death Metal and Melodic Death Metal. For those who want a circle pit grinder that still has plenty of groove, ‘Burnt to Death’ will get the masses going at any show. It also shows more of Mikael’s guitar solo work which is again very melodic, but brief, making the somewhat repetitive riffs more bearable.

Closing on the grinding yet haunting ‘Decapitated,’ it shows some of the better layered vocals and riffs from the band and ends on a strong note. There is not a single bad track here as it all sounds balanced and yet still nasty. While some bands like Crawl use the fuzziness to drench their Old School Death Metal sound, Carnal Savagery’s choice to clean it up a little makes “Graveworms…” a lot more melodic and groove laden than its predecessors and shows another facet of influence from another band that just gives them more depth. Have they lost their speed and ferocity? Maybe a little, but this album still shines as one of their best as far as groove and melody goes and hopefully the duo will continue to expand their sound while remaining a Death Metal treasure rooted in the 90s sound that should not be missed. Fans of any sub genre of Death Metal will want to check this out for some great head nodding action. It might not bludgeon the listener to death but the riffs will stick with their ear for quite a while.

5 / 5 STARS