Label: Moribund Records
Genre: Death Metal
Length: 40:30
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Formed in 2001, Mausoleum is a long-standing force in the death metal scene. With two previous albums, Cadaveric Displays of Ghoulish Ghastliness (2003) and Back from the Funeral (2011) The band has made a name for themselves in the underground. Now, with their latest release Defiling the Decayed, which dropped in August via the label Moribund Records, Mausoleum delivers another relentless dose of old-school death metal. While I hadn’t explored their earlier works in depth, this album immediately grabbed my attention with its brutal riffs and sinister atmosphere, solidifying their discography.
The album spans 9 tracks, lasting just over 40 minutes, and stays true to what death metal fans crave: crushing riffs, aggressive drums, and a combination of guttural growls and eerie high-pitched screams. Right from the start, the opening track Beyond the Cemetery Gates sets the tone with fast, razor-sharp guitar work and relentless drumming. The vocals alternate between deep growls and terrifying screams, giving the album a chilling feel. Guitar solos add another layer of intensity, making the music hit even harder.
Throughout Defiling the Decayed, Mausoleum maintains an evil, haunting atmosphere. This is especially clear in songs like Nine Eternities in Doom, where the ending features creepy, horror-like sounds that give off a horror, nightmarish vibe. Other tracks like Curse of the Tomb and Undead Dissection also bring this eerie atmosphere, creating the sense that you're stepping into a dark, horror-filled world.
One of the standout songs for me is Clawing the Lid of the Coffin. It begins with a fast, thrash-like rhythm but soon slows down into a loud, menacing pace before speeding up again. This shift between tempos adds variety to the song and keeps it engaging. Catacombs of Eternal Dread is another memorable track, with its smooth transitions between solos and melodies that give the song depth. The song balances heaviness and melody in a way that’s both brutal and refreshing.
Then there's Gravefucked, which is driven by an intense vocal performance that never lets up. The vocalist's energy is impressive, and it’s clear that the band is firing on all cylinders here. The album’s title track, Defiling the Decayed, closes things off with a perfect mix of everything that came before. It’s a well-crafted track that blends fast riffs, slower, crushing sections, and an eerie atmosphere, summing up the whole album in one final assault.
In Defiling the Decayed, Mausoleum sticks firmly to their death metal roots, delivering an album full of aggressive, old-school sounds with a dark, horror-themed twist. If you’re a fan of classic death metal that combines brutality with an ominous, spooky feel, this album is definitely worth a listen. Mausoleum may have taken a while between releases, but they’ve come back strong with this one, and it’s sure to satisfy any fan of the genre.