Band:	Necrovation
Album:	Storm The Void / Starving Grave
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	February 2023

01. Storm The Void
02. Starving Grave

After a hiatus of 11 years, Necrovation have returned with two songs of brilliantly produced, expertly performed death metal.

After two albums that proved successful in the metal underground, the Swedish death metal band Necrovation abruptly ended their promising evolution in 2012. Following the departure of some of their members, the band released a statement announcing that they were "going underneath for a while, to surface when the time is right… whenever that is." Well, it seems like the stars have finally aligned. The time was right to return — and what a return it is!

Building on the style of their last album as if they'd never been gone, Necrovation resurface with additional improvements, sounding more original than ever before on this EP. For a band that traces its origins back to 2003 and has only sporadically performed since 2012, one would think they'd be a bit rusty, but nothing could be farther from the truth— these musicians come wielding their A-game like a new, blooming band showcasing all their talents and potential. One of the most notable improvements is the outstanding production quality, in which every element of the multi-layered mix gets a chance to shine. For instance, the distorted, raspy vocals aren't overbearing or corny. Instead, they mesh really well with the ferocious riffs, sounding like a devilish voice echoing from a well of souls. Is that what the black-and-white cover depicts — a black pit leading to a demonic dimension? Or simply a copy of Vola's 2021 cover art?

Back on topic; let's talk about the instruments. The musicianship sounds very mature, showing off a streamlined approach. As for the guitars, there's a backbone of solid, standard Swedish death metal that the band have clearly mastered. But wait, there's more: every now and then, the guitars branch out, introducing eerie tremolo-picking, heavy palm-muted plucking, or drawn-out screeches, keeping the music very dynamic and unpredictable. In the end, it's hard to pinpoint similarities to other bands, as Necrovation demonstrate here a style that's quite unique — and damn entertaining. The excellent drumming also shouldn't go unnoticed, producing some impressive rapid-fire and multi-faceted combinations. Up for debate is always whether the percussion leads or only supports the guitar-work. In this case, all instruments work so seamlessly together that there is no clear leader – only one masterful team.

Overall, the first song "Storm The Void" is fast-paced, with headbang-inducing riffage and an almost punk-like attitude. The second song, "Starving Grave", continues this aggressive approach for the first one-and-a-half minutes, before transitioning to eerily melodic yet sinister guitar-playing. Over the course of this EP, with only a runtime of barely 12 minutes, the music evolves naturally and seemingly effortlessly, flowing from crushing pummeling to spine-chilling riffs to a concluding sombre tone.

Necrovation's EP is one of the best pieces of death metal I've heard so far this year. My only complaint, of course, is that 12 minutes of content is way too short to fully satisfy! I see a bright future ahead for this reborn band, if this release is any indication. Until the next installment arrives, it seems I'll be blasting Storm The Void / Starving Grave on repeat for a good long while.