ALBUM REVIEW: Zombiefication, "Below The Grief"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/07/2018

Label: Doomentia Records

The very best death metal bands sound disparate from one another and Zombiefication manage to inject a whole lot of blackened sounding passages into their aural assault.  For quality and unique death metal, look no further that Zombiefication

“Below The Grief” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Blood Falls

2). Deliverance from the Astral Sea

3). Echoes of Light

4). Death to its Son

5). Heavy is the Crown

6). Hunger Undying

7). Sky Burial

The Review:

Four years after “Procession Through Infestation” and Five years after the absolute masterpiece of “At The Caves Of Eternal”, Mexico's finest death metal export return with seven tracks of gnarly blackened death metal. Once again, the focus is not on pro-tooled perfection, but is more towards a dark atmosphere and real sounding drums.

The sound is cavernous and the band has retained their unique and chaotic sound. I noted last time around that Zombiefication don't really sound like any other death metal band out there and this is a huge strength. The very best death metal bands sound disparate from one another (you'd never mistake Obituaryfor Deicide) and Zombieficationmanage to inject a whole lot of blackened sounding passages into their aural assault.

Opener “Blood Falls”is fast and furious, “Deliverance From The Astral Sea” is tempered by slower riffing and is hugely listenable with its fast passages and even a creepy clean section. Huge drums open up “Echoes of Light” and the band deliver a genuinely sinister atmosphere along with a grinding chug. The eight and a half minute epic “From Death To Its Son” is the album's centrepiece and essentially it combines all the good aspects of the band and throws them into one track- the atmosphere, riffing, sound, anguished vocals and overall effect are great.

From thereon, the album throws another three tracks at the listener- varied in their approach but consistent in their dark atmospherics. “Heavy Is the Crown” is dark and features an experimental production with serious use of dynamics. “Hunger Undying” is similarly tar-like in vibe and execution with thick blast sections. The album finishes with “Sky Burial” which is as appropriate a way as any to finish this deliciously dark and deep record.

For quality and unique death metal, look no further. Viva Zombiefication!

“Below The Grief” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook