Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 07/08/2015
Label: Pulverised Records/
Dark Descent Records
Dark Descent Records
“Downfall Rising” is a heavy, heavy as fuck comeback which succeeds on every level from production to vocals to the music itself and how it all comes together on record.
‘Downfall Rising’ CD//DD track Listing:
1. Intro
2. Under Apokalypsens Svarta Vingar
3. Underneath The Rotten Soil
4. I Am The Abyss
5. Fall Of The Weak
6. Putrid And Bound (By The Seed Of Satan)
7. Paid In Blood
8. Abandoned Furthermore
The Review:
Formed in 1990, Wombbath soon disbanded around 1994 following the release of their EP entitled ‘Lavatory’, now they are back after a 22 year hiatus with “Downfall Rising” which is released on Pulverised Records/Dark Descent Records. According to their bio the band had a huge Death influence, especially with the “Spiritual Healing” and “Leprosy” records. Whilst I agree with that reference, what got my attention wasn’t the Death influence but how much of a sound they shared with fellow swedes Necrophobic. I wish more bands had this thick, brick wall, guitar sound. “Downfall Rising” was mixed by the band's drummerJeramie Kling (The Absence, Infernaeon, etc) and mastered by James Murphy (Disincarnate, ex-Death, ex-Testament, ex-Obituary, etc) at SafeHouse Production, USA.
Although “Downfall Rising” is hailed as a straight forward death metal record it also treads into blackish metal territory perhaps best highlighted on track four “I Am The Abyss.” I like it, it works, it broadens the band’s sound in a way that takes them away from being one dimensional and opens them up wider, gives them more musical space to explore which we hear in track five, “Fall Of TheWeak.” It’s speedy, growly death metal that isn’t afraid to plod and grind with a heavy crushing groove when called for and that’s to be said of the entire record as well.
The band does a good job knowing when to play fast and when to slow it down which might be stating the obvious, however, not a lot of bands actually have a grasp on how to do this or when to do this. Putting a record together isn’t an easy task, especially trying to get the band’s sound translated just the right way and Wombbath have done it quite well.
“Downfall Rising” is a heavy, heavy as fuck comeback which succeeds on every level from production to vocals to the music itself and how it all comes together on record. Had I not known about their hiatus it never would’ve dawned on me that Wombbath had been out of the game for the last 22 years? Would I buy it? Hell yes and I’d put it next to both Necrophobic and Death, in terms of overall quality. Buy this record.
