Sentient Horror – In Service of The Dead
Release Date: 25th October 2024
Label: Redefining Darkness Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Old School Death Metal, Death Metal, Swedish Style Death Metal, Swedeath.
FFO: Bloodbath, Horrendous, Gatecreeper, Entombed.
Review By: Andy Spoon
New Jersey Swedish-style OSDM outfit Sentient Horror is poised to release their upcoming album In Service of The Dead on October 25th through Redefining Darkness Records. The overall experience of the album was a strong showing that tends to lean heavily into the gritty, unyielding Swedish DM sound with some added expertise on lead guitar. There’s not a ton of bands in this subgenre that give me the same vibe and execution, so I would definitely recommend In Service of the Dead as part of any OSDM fans’ rotation at least once to dig in and get some face-melting riffs in your blood.
The standout sounds on this album are twofold – The old school Swedish-style chainsaw guitar effects and the blistering solos from Matt Moliti, vocalist and guitarist. There is an absolute fury of guitar tone on the album, something that got my blood racing instantly. I was thrilled to hear such a dearth of chunky, heavy guitar noise. If you are into the Swedish sound of the filthy, fuzzy guitars, Sentient Horror has got a major spot in your line-up at this point.
The mix and engineering are definitely more modern-sounding, tending to enhance the bass section, giving the sound a heavy, chunky tone. There is a positive “Wall” of guitar tone, as previously mentioned, that is pervasive on every single track. If you are a fan of that tone, you are going to appreciate the way that Sentient Horror has put the overall tonal vibe of the album together. I think that one of the best examples of the “chunky” sound I am referring to is Cadaverous Hordes, one of the best tracks on the album in my own opinion. If you are looking to jam out to some of the thickest tones out there, you should start with that track.
Vocals are heavy and deep, although I wish that I would have been treated to a pinch more of the high-low variations, but that’s just my particular taste. There was definitely nothing “wrong”, but I feel like Sentient Horror could have put the album across the next level with the vocal section. There were a few moments where we were treated to some higher register screams that I was completely in love with. I only wished that I would have been able to get some more. That being said, this is a subjective matter, your mileage may vary. I certainly don’t want to take any points away from Sentient Horror; it’s just something that would have pushed this album to the next level for me in particular.
I thought that In Service of the Dead was an excellently-made and produced Swedish-style Death metal album that will 1000% appeal to fans of the genre who like Paganizer, Bloodbath, and (of course) the classics like Entombed and Dismember. These guys are absolutely rising to the peak of the newer style of the genre and anyone who is a real fan of Swedish sound with wailing, screaming guitar leads needs to get this album on their late brat-girl fall playlist.
(3.5 / 5)
