The Plague – Erosion of Gods
Release Date: 28th October 2023
Label: Brilliant Emperor Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Swedish Death Metal
FFO: Bloodbath, Dismember, Grave, Vomitory.
Review By: Eric Wilt
Swedish death metal probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Sydney, Australia. In fact, it probably isn’t in the first fifty things that come to mind when you think about Sydney, Australia, but The Plague is here to change that. Comprised of Alannah on bass, Chinch on guitar, Shaneo on guitar, Mike on vocals, and Zac on drums, The Plague got their start in 2016 and has released one EP and one full-length thus far. On 28 October 2023, their new record, Erosion of Gods sees the light of day via Brilliant Emperor Records, and these Aussies are bringing the Stockholm sound down under.
With buzzsaw guitars blaring, The Plague delivers a precise and polished brand of Swedish death metal that will have fans of the genre doing a double take. After an intro track called Harbinger of the Abyss, The Plague gets down to business with Hacked and Butchered. Boasting HM2 guitar tone aplenty and a vocalist with a tortured growl similar to A New Disease is Born era Nightrage, The Plague tears through nine songs in about thirty minutes. Living Catatonic, Impulsive Convulsions, and Roadside Burial bring the rage with up-tempo sections that will get the circle pits swirling, while Incinerated, Desolate Wasteland, and the title track focus on heaviness and groove. Top track on the album honors go to Rotten, Dried, and Mummified, which isn’t just an edgy title. The song is seriously sick and will no doubt wind up on many a Swedish death metal playlist this year.
The Plague doesn’t break any new ground with Erosion of Gods, but it’s not like you can improve on the tried and true Swedish death metal formula, anyway.
(3.5 / 5)
