Band:	Feastem
Album:	Graveyard Earth
Style:	Grindcore
Release date:	March 2020

01. The Rope Calls Your Name
02. I Will Never Kill
03. Sick
04. Terror Balance
05. Sortovalta
06. Verta Ja Lihaa
07. Creeping Heat
08. In Isolation We Die
09. Pelon Voima
10. Graveyard Earth
11. Spreading Darkness
12. Mouths Of Others
13. Turha Toivo
14. Kurjuuden Kuningas
15. Outro

Scandinavian grindcore bands seem particularly fond of creating graveyard-themed albums and I'm absolutely on board underground with it.

Finnish-based Feastem formed in the mid-2000s with the goal of producing some of the most extreme and aggressive grind ever heard, and while their signature style somewhat betrays that motive, Graveyard Earth and its siblings aren't exactly the easiest meals to digest for the average dinner attendee. Featuring track lengths worthy of Napalm Death appraisal, continuing a long-established trend of Rotten Sound-esque magnitude, this punk-infused outfit utilizes every second at their disposal to deliver a carefully coordinated cacophony of lambasting groove and crusty chaos.

Little noticeable has changed over the years of Feastem releases, aside from a slightly warmer sounding production that accentuates the bass and drums and a minor veering into more groove-oriented territory, but the overall extremity and raw energy that permeates their albums has been a mainstay since their formation. Petri Eskelinen's handling of the vocal duties after the release of their full-length debut is nothing short of a perfect fit, as his high-octane raspy shrieks (at times reminiscent of a barely pubescent Varg Vikernes with an improved lung capacity and more professional comprehension of pitch and key) meld with the hypnotically brutal backdrop of crushing hardcore grind.

Rather than a comedic or tongue-in-cheek approach as is so often seen with this genre, this quixotic quartet choose instead to focus primarily on sociopolitical topics, though they (obviously) aren't ones to shy away from allusions to the undead nor to attack galaxy brain issues in a relatable manner. Far from transposing the nature of the scene with which they find themselves aligned, Feastem do a mighty fine job of exploring the more melodic and accessible side of their self-imposed relentless barbarity, even going so far as to write legitimately catchy, headbanging tunes -- all things considered. They may not sit atop the throne of inedible courses you'll encounter during your grind to find what lies behind the scenes of the scene's most formidable purveyors of harsh noise, but their indelible menu of just desserts will ensure the initial prospect of your quest is duly rewarded in kind. Welcome to the feast.