AN NCS PREMIERE: NEKROHOWL — “BLASPHEMY STILL UNNAMED”

 

Nekrohowl were spawned last year in Dhaka, Bangladesh, its members coming together from other local bands with the intent of dedicating themselves to “abhorrent and paroxysmal Death Metal” in the grand and gruesome traditions of the ’90s. In doing so, they become a link in what is now a very long and tangled chain (one crusted in blood) that connects back in time to the likes of Suffocation, Autopsy, Immolation, Morbid Angel, and Hellhammer (among others), from whom they’ve drawn their foul inspirations.

There are, of course, a vast number of links in that globe-spanning chain, but some gleam brighter than others. Or, since we’re talking about old school death metal, maybe it’s more accurate to say that some links are more corroded and plague-infested, more likely to cut you, leave festering wounds, and produce seizures of madness. Based upon the quality of Nekrohowl’s debut EP, Epitome of Morbid, they’re definitely one of the brighter (and uglier) links in the chain — as you’ll discover when you hear the song we’re premiering, “Blasphemy Still Unnamed“.

 

 

This song has a lot going for it. For most of its duration, it flies like a bat out of hell. Its sheer speed and ferocity give the band a chance to display impressive technical skills as well as extreme viciousness, not only in the accelerated savagery of the frenzied riffs but also in the barrage of merciless drum battering. The roaring vocals are convincingly monstrous as well.

But the songwriting is also impressive — the band salt this gruesome mayhem with rapidly pulsating, twisting, and skittering leads that make the music catchy, as well as beastly and deranged. And in the final minute they slow their neck-breaking pace and introduce a dismal, bereaved melody that carries through to the end, even as the band mount a final frenzied assault.

 

Epitome of Morbid will be released on September 30 on CD, cassette, and vinyl by Slaughter House Records in the U.S. The Malaysian label Diabolicurst Productions will provide the Asian release on cassette tape, and digipack CDs are also available from Nekrohowl. In addition, a digital edition can be ordered on Bandcamp. The cover art was created by Grasen Artstyle.

Experience “Blasphemy Still Unnamed” below, along with a second, previously released track, “Mortal Incubation“.

Track List:
1.Summoning Darkness
2.Blasphemy Still Unnamed
3.Worship Thy Malevolence
4.Epitome of Morbid
5.Mortal Incubation

Pre-order on Bandcamp:
https://nekrosadist.bandcamp.com/album/epitome-of-morbid

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/Nekrohowl