Rating: 7.4

Country: Sweden

Genre: Black/Death Metal

Record Label: Daemon Worship

Release Date: 2009

Track list:
1. Intro
2. Incongruity
3. The Birth
4. Lieath
5. Razormania
6. Pulsating Darkness
7. Asteni
8. Lower The Casket
9. Rotting In Solitude
10. Flames Of Desolation
11. Spiritual Serenity

Band Website: Sadistic Grimness

Sadistic Grimness - Asteni

DD Executioner - Vokills
C. Carnivore - Strings
R. Fleshripper - Bass
J. Demiser - Drums & strings

Aha, so we have yet another black/death metal band. Expectedly, they have a good deal in common with Polish bands such as Behemoth, Stillborn, Hell United, Deception, etc. There is one difference though, a fairly big one – Sadistic Grimness are from Sweden not Poland, commander. Unlike their forward-thinking contemporaries, they are kind of old-fashioned and messed up in the head too.

Another thing – Sadistic Grimness don't merely fan the black/death chaos; they give their own artistic shape to it. They don't just spill blood and walk away in superstar style like everyone else; after the bloodshed they sit down and use their finger to make smiling human faces in the pool of blood. Their carefree attitude dominated by impulse and sick voices in the head is what you will like them for the most, because purely on the basis of speed or form they are frankly not as good as the Poles. Admittedly that was a cause for mild disappointment for this reviewer initially but once you get to “Razormania”, you will become more and more convinced of their art and by the end you will be ready to kidnap pets and slit throats to obtain it.

What also works in their favour is the raw old Swedish style of death metal that is used here, which though not very prominent, is a refreshing change from the typical Vader-influenced death metal. Coarse and catchy riffs sound great coming after scathing blackened blasts, and you instantly nod your head in approval several times. Production is raw as a fruit still hanging from a tree and filthy as if a sour boy threw mud on it – not fit for consumption if you have a weak stomach, wimp. Their riffs may not decapitate you with one clean stroke. Instead, they will saw through your thick neck, get stuck in between maybe, pop a couple of veins, force unintentional blood-gargling, etc; with a weapon this rough and rusted, you will probably die of gangrene sooner than of loss of blood or head.

Putting to use the experience of their members playing in a few other black metal bands, Sadistic Grimness succeed in providing a reasonably eerie atmosphere for music this chaotic especially by adding stylish Blut aus Nord-ish bits to the music.

Now sir, I understand that you are spoilt for choice but I would think you to be a greedy pig, a very fat one, should you ask for more from this album. I believe Sadistic Grimness have sufficiently proved that their existence in an overcrowded black/death metal world isn't superfluous.

February 11, 2010