| After years of silence and lineup shifts, Violentopia marks a triumphant and sharpened return for ROTTENNESS. Spearheaded by founding guitarist Jaleel Castillo, the album sees the band fully reborn with a powerhouse international lineup featuring Matt Johnson on drums, Karl Schmidt handling both bass and vocals, guitarist Ray Nevison, and the snarling vocal force of Matti “Niño” Guey. What follows is a 13-track onslaught of precise, pulverizing brutality that doesn’t so much evolve the ROTTENNESS sound as it does explode it into new territory.
At its core, Violentopia remains firmly rooted in brutal death metal, but this isn't a by-the-numbers affair. The album blends its foundation with flashes of grindcore urgency, slamming groove, and the sinister atmosphere of old-school death. Blasting sections tear forward with surgical aggression, while breakdowns and lurching mid-paced riffs provide dynamic weight and breathing room. Songs like “Dragged Across Concrete” and “Bitchmade at Birth” showcase this push-pull tension well, alternating between jackhammer ferocity and eerie, dissonant stretches that hint at something more chaotic beneath the surface.
The guest appearances only elevate things further, with members of Pig Destroyer, Cephalic Carnage, and Isolation in Infamy lending their talents without overshadowing the core lineup. Rob Caldwell’s mix gives the album a dense but clear punch, while Davide Billia’s mastering ensures the overall sound hits with clarity and volume, without falling into the trap of overproduction. There’s a rawness preserved here—a gritty edge that feels honest and fitting for the material.
There are some moments—such as the spoken-word samples—that may divide listeners, and the final track, a cover of Molotov, feels stylistically jarring. Yet even these choices speak to the band’s willingness to experiment, offering unexpected twists in an otherwise bulldozing record.
Violentopia is not just a comeback—it’s a statement. ROTTENNESS sound revitalized, focused, and more violent than ever. Die hards of Suffocation, Misery Index, Cephalic Carnage, and Internal Bleeding will find much to sink their teeth into here. It’s a modern death/grind record done right: relentless, tight, and unafraid to push boundaries.
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