Splatterhouse’s The House That Dead Built is an impressive homage to the gritty, gore-splattered legacy of classic death metal with a gleeful sense of horror. The Portland outfit deftly channels Carcass-era influence, layering dual vocal styles—snarling and guttural—in a way that perfectly fits their morbidly playful narrative. The album’s core sound combines furious grind with groovy death metal, offering a variety of riffs that call back to the frantic energy of old-school records without feeling derivative. Each track is packed with punchy, relentless energy, keeping listeners hooked with shifting tempos and wickedly fun interludes.
Production on this album is a standout; it’s sharp and polished without losing that raw, sawblade guitar tone that cuts through with every riff. The drums hammer out blast beats and fills that drive the songs forward, complementing the dense guitar tone. Splatterhouse’s homage to classic gore and horror doesn’t stop with just their sound. Sampled sound bites and nods to horror classics give The House That Dead Built an atmosphere akin to watching a late-night horror flick. It’s this mixture of bloodthirsty riffs and a sense of dark humor that elevates the album beyond mere imitation. Tracks like "Night of the Creeps" and "Mutilator" evoke B-movie horror tropes with unrestrained energy, making each song a mini-soundtrack to some imaginary slasher or monster movie.
The album closes with a cover of Dahmer’s “The Hillside Stranglers,” which Splatterhouse makes entirely their own, adding their signature flair. For anyone with a penchant for horror-themed death metal that doesn’t take itself too seriously, The House That Dead Built delivers in spades. It’s well-executed, infectiously fun, and a perfect fit for fans of Razorback Records’ classic aesthetic. This album is a solid addition to any death metal collection, and a testament to Splatterhouse’s unique place in the genre’s more gruesome corners.
1. Baptizing the Dead 06:10
2. Confessions of a Grave Robber 04:00
3. Mutilator 03:14
4. They Came from Within 04:21
5. Coffin Birth 03:43
6. Warmest Place to Hide 02:55
7. Night of the Creeps 03:56
8. Somewhere in the Yard 03:29
9. The Hillside Stranglers (Dahmer cover) 02:13
10. Cryptcrawler (unreleased) 04:05
11. Maggot Sermon 03:05
12. Awash in Gore 03:54
13. Splatterhouse 02:50
14. Decom-posers (Haemmorhage cover) 02:37
15. In the Swamps You Rot 03:19
16. Beast of the Bayou 01:05
17. Blasphemy (Nunslaughter cover) 01:46
18. Digging In (Nasum cover) 00:16
Total: 56:58
