Despite hinting towards the grindcore of old with its bleak cover art (reminiscent of Terrorizer’s World Downfall or Napalm Death’s From Enslavement to Obliteration), Endseeker’s third opus, Mount Carcass, is a 35-minute onslaught of harmonious, groove-filled, old school death metal (OSDM) drenched in a thick, yet polished, Swedish HM-2 sound.
Formed in Hamburg, Germany, in 2014, the band have become a force to be reckoned with in their native country and beyond, gaining worldwide attention with their chaotic debut (Flesh Hammer Prophecy in 2017) and most notably, with their sophomore Metal Blade effort, The Harvest (2019). Taking a more organic approach than before, Mount Carcass focuses on trimming away the fat and presenting a more straightforward (almost punk-like) approach to their composition. Continuing with the punk ethos, it showcases some of their most political material to date, including songs about conspiracy theories, cults and deaths on Mount Everest (hence the title).
Within the first few seconds of opening track, ‘Unholy Rites’, immediate thoughts jump to artists such as At The Gates, Edge of Sanity, Dismember and even recent Carcass (in particular, the second track ‘Merciless Tide’ oozes the groove of Swansong). Catchy, melodic harmonies soar above a foundation of Dave Lombardo/Adrian Erlandsson-esque drums and dense Entombed style rhythm guitar to create something multifaceted and deep. Thankfully, they consolidate this depth with a flawless production quality that provides an ideal middle ground between raw and over-polished. Everything is audible, coherent and smooth in its layering, which could be considered sacrilege for a subgenre that prides itself on buzz saw chaos but works very well here. While the guitar leads are abundant, there is a distinct lack of actual guitar solos throughout the album (perhaps a conscious omission for the sake of the organic sound), allowing for a greater focus on the band as a whole. Completing the ensemble are some powerful death growls a la LG Petrov or Dan Swanö, concentrating less on range and more on accentuating the instrumental work.
The intriguing inclusion of a Swedeath rendition of John Carpenter’s theme from 1980s sci-fi classic, Escape From New York, is also a stroke of genius. It’s quite a unique and unexpected cover that suits the style surprisingly well.
All in all, Mount Carcass is a well composed and well produced record that seems more of a cohesive and refined effort than their previous releases. Taking a step back on the raw production while taking a step forwards in the punk influence seems counterproductive on first consideration, but the presentation melds well. From the balls-to-the-wall relentlessness of the title track and to the slow chords and melody lines of ‘Count The Dead’ to the unabating groove of ‘Bloodline’, there’s just enough diversity and hooks to keep any fan of the Swedish death metal genre content.
In a time that could be considered an OSDM renaissance, it’s unlikely this will be considered a unique or ground-breaking release. However, Endseeker perform with a sense of sincerity and authenticity, providing a nostalgic presentation that feels fresh and memorable despite its lack of originality.
Matt Davidson
Verdict
Release Date: 16/04/2021
Record Label: Metal Blade
Standout tracks: Merciless Tide, Mount Carcass, Unholy Rites
Suggested Further Listening: Sentient Horror – Ungodly Forms (2018), Edge of Sanity – The Spectral Sorrows (1993), Wombbath – Downfall Rising (2015)