Band:	Sanctuarium
Album:	Melted And Decomposed
Style:	Death metal, Death doom metal
Release date:	September 03, 2024
A review by:	F3ynman

01. Abhorrent Excruciation In Reprisal
02. Exultant Dredge Of Nameless Tombs
03. Phlegmatic Convulsions
04. Sadisic Cremation Of Emaciated Offal
05. The Disembodied Grip Of Putrescine Stench



Venturing down the cavernous death doom rabbit hole proves to be a rewarding endeavor.

After my last review of Trollcave’s Adoration Of The Abyssal Trespasser, I was curious to see what else their record label Me Saco Un Ojo Records had to offer. Despite being based in the UK, it's not so surprising that the label with a Spanish name (meaning “I take out my eye”) signs a lot of Spanish bands. One of these bands, Sanctuarium caught my attention due to the striking cover art of their latest release, Melted And Decomposed. The pile of skulls and the tree of many grotesque faces is quite reminiscent of Obituary’s classic Cause Of Death, albeit in a far more colorful way.

Similar to bands like Obituary and Autopsy, Sanctuarium play a rotten, swampy style of death metal. Yet, the Spaniards lean far more into their doom metal influences, often reaching funeral doom levels of lethargic, sluggish droning. The main adjective I'd use to describe Melted And Decomposed is heavy. Immensely heavy. A reverberating wave of riffs grinds along at a snail's pace as indiscernible, echoing growls enhance the subterranean atmosphere. Some listeners may find this lengthy, ambient music boring, but I find it legitimately mesmerizing. I patiently take in each guitar note, each strike of the cymbal, each rap of the snare. That's the beauty of metal's slower subgenres: you get to take your time with the music, deconstructing each element, while also appreciating the atmosphere as a whole greater than its parts.

Sanctuarium excel with their satisfyingly fuzzy, warm, buzzsaw guitar tone, first pioneered by classic acts like Entombed. The instruments drone and groan, almost as if the musicians themselves are suffering under the weight of their sound. Occasionally, the rumbling thunder of rhythm is spiced up by bursts of unnerving, high-pitched, clean guitar wailing. Also, notably, the album begins and ends in the same way: with eerie synth playing.

The album takes its time, dragging you down bit by bit. And then, as soon as you find yourself deep within the claustrophobic soundscape, the riffs change from lethargic to groovy, lighting up the swampy air with electrifying energy. More straightforward, catchy guitar melodies can be found on the album, too, like in the opening of “Phlegmatic Convulsions” and the ending breakdowns of “Exultant Dredge Of Nameless Tombs”. The final track is also filled with absolutely filthy riffs that I just can't get enough of.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of dark, atmospheric, and incredibly heavy death doom metal, you won't find anything to complain about on Melted And Decomposed. Sanctuarium have masterfully crafted a truly immersive experience, alternating between long, droning passages and sinister underworld riffs. The song lengths look daunting at first, and the album takes its time to properly unfold, but, once you're submerged in the depths of their sound, there is no escape.