Maceration – It Never Ends
Release Date: 25th November 2022
Label: Emanzipation Productions
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath, Entombed, Invocator.
Review By: Rick Farley
Thirty years ago, Denmark’s Maceration released their debut album, ASerenade of Anguish, paving the way for a whole generation of Danish death metal bands to follow. A filthy, nasty dose of what we now call old school death metal. With a sound close to Florida and Scandinavia, these Danes are about to return in 2022 for album number two, It Never Ends. Legendary musician and record producer Dan Swanö returns as session vocalist, bringing a big name and serious growling chops. Which honestly is a special treat for fans, considering he hasn’t done this particular style of death metal growling since the mid-nineties. The bands live line-up will be comprised of original guitarists Jakob Schultz, Lars Bangsholt (both of ex Invocator fame), and new members Rasmus Schmidt on drums, bassist Robert Tengs and vocalist Jan Bergman Jepsen all rounding out the stage setting. Let the carnage begin.
It Never Ends isn’t really anything new or innovative in any regard, but is that really what you came for? Hell no, if that’s what you want, find the trendiest, whiny, pansy-assed, pseudo brutal band and listen to them for fuck’s sake. This is pure buzzsaw, grinding, and downright punishing death metal with real swagger and bone shattering songs. Gruesome opening track Lost in Depravity has a memorable hook that’s sure to be a live setting favourite, promising fists pumping in the air. It eerily starts with a piano followed by the same melody, just with creeping distorted guitars, and drums. Powerful growls in the background gives this part a hellish feel before it erupts into fast chainsaw guitars with ripping solos. Dan Swanö sounds ravenous with his monstrous growls from the depths of hell, sending shivers down your spine. Engulfed in Agony gallops into wicked leads with pummelling double kick pedal. Nastily picking up the pace to blasting and fast jagged tremolo picked riffs that never relent. The Tender Twigs of Innocence is a looming, slow starting infernal dose of sadistic atmosphere. The brutish track has a bouncy headbanging verse riff that’s impossible not to headbang to. A huge dose of swedeath influence mangles, like a ravenous clawing beast. The solo starts measured and threatening, building slightly to faster picking, giving the track a stronger sense of nightmarish feel while you’re being brutally beaten by the pulverizing rhythm section.
Production duties were handled by Mr. Swanö himself at Unisound studios and no surprise to anyone, the record sound great. Mixed and mastered skilfully while still retaining some nasty grittiness. Cutting guitars, thick low end, drum clarity and huge growling vocals all come together in a torturous soundscape. Well known Swedish artist Ola Larsson puts his grotesque art to the album cover, perfectly summing up the feel of the record.
Thankfully there’s nothing subtle about It Never Ends, it scratches that infected pure death metal itch in ways that other bands simply can’t. Sometimes all you need is seriously ugly riffs, manic drumming, and deathly growls from demons invoked straight from hell (if you believe in that sort of thing) to just headbang your fucking neck into serious trauma. Fucking solid. 
(3.5 / 5)
