Nuclear Tomb – Terror Labyrinthian
Release Date: 19th April 2024
Label: Everlasting Spew Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, OSDM, Death/Thrash.
FFO: Morbid Angel, Schizophrenia, Voivod, Suppression.
Review By: Andy Spoon
Baltimore Death/thrash outfit Nuclear Tomb is back with their first release since 2022 with their LP titled Terror Labyrinthian, set to be released on acclaimed extreme music label Everlasting Spew Records on April 19th. The 9 track LP is the band’s longest to-date, and seeks to be the bands most ambitious offering since its 2019 and 2022 EPs. Given the overall production, execution, and overall atmosphere, Nuclear Tomb is absolutely swinging for the fences with Terror Labyrinthian with a fast, aggressive, and vehemently old school attack.
If you’re a fan of Morbid Angel, you’re going to enjoy this. The vocal section employs many of the exact same techniques and tones that Morbid Angel made famous in the 1980s and 1990s. I think that listeners will absolutely find that the connection is apparent. There’s a big sense of the Earache Records themes from the 1990s as well – This comes in the form of the tasteful *lack* of 280 bpm blast beats and audiophile-quality recording that’s become a new trend endemic to modern extreme death metal. Nuclear Tomb is trying to channel the best of the old school feel that is finding a modern resurgence in recent years.
Riffs and guitar work are absolutely vital to the presentation of a good album in this subgenre. I think that there is absolutely no question that Nuclear Tomb has done their homework on the proper tone and mixing to get the best “sound” possible. This is not necessarily based on clarity and mixing, but on the overall effect that the rhythm instruments have in the mix. Stylistic choices are important when re-creating the old school sound (a la Earache, Florida 1990s scene), and I think that Nuclear Tomb is right on track with the headbang-worthy riffs and breakdowns.
I was also impressed with some of the bass guitar work that comes in the form of arpeggios and breakdowns (the title track, Terror Labyrinthian, is a great example of this). I enjoyed the drum section as well, as the percussion is tastefully done. I think that the snare mix is one of the better decisions, as it helps lead to atmosphere and an overall “dirty” tone. In regards to execution and mixing, the drums were truly period-correct and lend themselves to a perfect blend of the rhythm section’s influence on the whole of the album.
I think that some of the old school metal elements, such as headbanging moments and riffs were ever-present in the totality of the album, which makes it a real winner to my ears. For the most part, the tracks were short, most being under 3 minutes, which is right on target for the type of fans that Nuclear Tomb is appealing to. I really believe that Everlasting Spew Records is continuing to produce better and better albums with their cadre of artists in recent years with bands like Hideous Divinity, Altars, Nothingness, Fractal Generator, and Aborted (who is posed to release one of the best albums of 2024). Nuclear Tomb is likely to be placed equally amongst some of those artists with Terror Labyrinthian, a death/thrash album that I think is going to absolutely going to entertain fans of OSDM and Thrash for many years to come.
(4.5 / 5)
