Griefgod are a brand-new band from Vilnius, Lithuania, who deliver with their debut album Deterioration some of the most enjoyable death metal I've heard this year. With a total runtime of just 32 minutes, the album flies by before you know it, but not before you've been subjected to the addictive, neck-snapping rhythm, the pummeling percussion, the rampaging riffs, or the rumbling, gurgling vocals.
Griefgod’s death metal style is somewhat varied, adopting aspects from the brutal, technical, progressive, and even melodic flavors. One prime example is the song “Constellations Are Their Eyes”, which somehow simultaneously contains the calmest atmosphere and most technically ambitious musical passages on the album. If I had to compare their sound to other bands, I'd say Griefgod sound like a blending of the heavy ferocity of Immolation and the proggy technicality of Gojira.
But, despite these moments of technicality (such as pick scraping on “Pestilence” or the ultra-fast guitar-work at the climax of “No Future”), Griefgod don't lose themselves in the complex musicianship, instead relying on a central, strong groove to anchor their approach. On the other hand, they don't get hung up on one, monotonous riff per song, either. Overall, Griefgod strike a good balance, creating death metal that's generally easy to follow, but also sprinkling in plenty of surprises to keep the listener engaged.
In the end, Deterioration might not be the catchiest death metal out there. Nor the heaviest, nor the most melodically atmospheric, nor the most technically impressive music. But, the way that Griefgod dip their toes in a bit of everything, trying out several death metal styles while retaining their own, focused identity, creates a solid, entertaining combination that might just make Deterioration one of my favorite death metal experiences of this year.
