Band:	Eternal Rot
Album:	Moribound
Style:	Doom death metal
Release date:	July 24, 2023
A review by:	F3ynman

01. Summoned From Moribound Delusions
02. Reflected In Perpetual Waves Of Despair
03. Swollen Corpse Adoration
04. Desecrated Guts
05. Gestures Never Recalled
06. Lurker In The Morgue

You know those zombies hanging around on the cover of Scream Bloody Gore? Imagine handing those undead buddies some guitars, a drum kit, and a microphone. Now ask them to play some doom death. What is it going to sound like? Moribound is your answer!

In light of my recent enjoyment of Angrrsth and 71TONMAN, I've come to realize that Polish extreme metal bands have a certain brutal edge that makes them stand out from the rest of their competition. This proves once again true with the Polish trio who don the name Eternal Rot.

Three studio albums deep into their metal career, this three-piece are proud practitioners of doom death with slow, heavy, and vile riffs creating a cavernous and claustrophobic atmosphere. Accentuating the rumbling guitar-work and catchy drumming are the impressively guttural vocal performances which sound more savage than ever before on Moribound.

Usually, I'm a stickler for vocals, needing to enjoy them first and foremost in order to give the rest of the music a chance. However, in this case, the crushing guitars have stomped me into submission, it seems. Who cares whether the vocals are indiscernible? In a way, the mindless growling, grunting, and burping contributes to the overall subterranean atmosphere. A few unusual vocals do appear, for example when the track "Desecrated Guts" opens with the faint singing of monks, adding to the feeling of submerging into a dank crypt. But, for the most part, the album sticks to a consistent formula, overwhelming the listener with monstrous growls and chunky, chugging riffs.

Upon my first listening, once I paid closer attention to the growls, they seemed kind of comical after a while. However, combined with the seriously groovy riffage and the excellent production sound, I can't help but simply headbang and smile. This is what a party with musically talented zombies would sound like, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

So, dear reader, if you're planning on taking a break from epic and grandiose storytelling and just want to enjoy a wild, catchy jam session, Eternal Rot have got you covered! Behold the ultra-heavy soundwaves of the undead!