| After three years of deathlike silence, Quebecois death metal adepts Outre-Tombe return with Necrovortex, their second album of grotesque graveyard anthems.
To the band’s credit, Outre-Tombe have never attempted to flood the underground with unnecessary releases. In their eight-year existence, they’ve released only a single demo and two albums—each one meticulously written, performed, and recorded. This methodical approach sets them apart from many of their peers.
With Necrovortex, Outre-Tombe continue to sharpen their sound, one that faithfully channels the essence of late ’80s and early ’90s death metal. Their influences are clear—Grave, Nihilist, Asphyx, Pestilence—but merely listing these names doesn’t do justice to the morbid impact they achieve. The album is relentless and aggressive, offering little respite, but beneath the onslaught lies a compositional intricacy. The riffs are precisely carved, chiseled, and surgically sutured together—tight, cohesive, and unyielding.
The production is crisp, allowing the instrumentation to breathe and letting the countless memorable riffs shine through. Vocally, bassist/vocalist Crachat brings a unique dimension to the album, capturing the guttural force of the French language in a delivery that commands attention. Every growl and howl feels spewed straight from the tomb.
Lyrically, Outre-Tombe dwell in the realms of horror and the macabre, but with a level of sophistication that sets them apart. For those fluent in French, the vivid imagery conjured in the lyrics perfectly complements the music’s eerie atmosphere.
Rounding out the presentation is a striking cover artwork by the master of macabre, Matt "Putrid" Carr.
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