Paganizer – Beyond The Macabre
Release Date: 24th June 2022
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Wombbath, Ironmaster, Entombed.
Review By: Andy Spoon
Perhaps, I am just a shill for Swedish Death Metal, but it seems that at the halfway point, 2022 has been a dynamite year for the subgenre, and Beyond the Macabre has proven to be no different when considered against other excellent releases. Paganizer has returned in 2022 with their most recent release, Beyond the Macabre, a thrilling, broody, menacing, and satisfying addition to their impressive discography to date.
Right off the bat, there can be no doubt that Beyond the Macabre is both musical as well as brutal and grinding. The old hack-kneed “chainsaw” guitar sound has become more refined over the years, bringing the heaviness and mid-bass flavor to the rhythm section. Paganizer pays homage to the older, classic style of distortion, but has all the flavor of more modern, contemporary metal. It’s more transparent distortion, making the underlying notes and chords apparent, lending to a more musically-involved tone. This transparency is great for expanding the “feel” of a track, as the listener can hear actual tunes instead of mere scratchy rhythm. If that detracts from the overall effect, I’ll eat my hat. It’s just better-sounding, even more evolved. Let the purists complain about the harshest, most un-listenable Swedish death possible. Personally, I’ll take it this way.
The album starts off huge, with the track Down the Path of Decay, which sets the tone for the entire album, something that hardly lets up until the very last track. Each guitar riff is gritty, but manages to leave enough musical “room” to be able to hum some kind of tune when listening. In their press release, Paganizer admits that the memorable and “hook-y” rhythm lines were a big part of their writing and recording process for Beyond the Macabre, something that gives each individual track a unique touch. Frankly, it makes putting the entire album on repeat a real treat, as each track has enough variation and individual flavor that it could be enjoyed, almost like a single, something that makes Beyond the Macabre totally listenable from minute one to the very last.
Notable tracks on this album are Left Behind to Rot, Succumb to the Succubus, Beyond the Macabre, and You Are What You Devour, all of which have strong melody lines that are notable and enjoyable, lyrics that are dark and foreboding, and raunchy, expressive vocals wrapped in that Swedish-death flair that we’ve come to expect from Paganizer. Vocalist Rogga Johansson’s throaty grit is prevalent on the entirety of the album, blending screaming highs, growly lows, and varied mid-ranged rasp on virtually every track. Further, his pristine diction and enunciation make the lyrics easier to decipher than most other vocalists in the more extreme genres. Hats are off to him, as he might be one of the most prolific vocalists in the death/thrash genre right now.
The album ends on a slower, more doom-like note with Unpeaceful End, featuring additional vocal work from Karl Willets, legendary frontman for Bolt Thrower. Another great note is the color contrast and composition of the album art, something that will stick with fans. If you’re a fan of horror art, it ought to stand out as something expertly-crafted, and done with thoughtful color choice. It is safe to say that Paganizer is once again, raising the bar for bands in the death/thrash/swedish death genres with Beyond the Macabre, a punishing, musically-satisfying, and highly-listenable addition to their library that does not disappoint on virtually any level. 
(5 / 5)
