UMUR
"Get Dead or Die Trying" is the debut full-length studio album by UK death metal/goregrind act The Rotted. The album was released through Metal Blade Records in June 2008. It´s not really the band´s debut album, as The Rotted was originally formed under the Gorerotted monicker in 1997 and released three full-length studio albums under that name before changing their name to The Rotted in 2008. Most of the lineup who recorded the last Gorerotted album "A New Dawn for the Dead" from 2005 are also present in the lineup who recorded "Get Dead or Die Trying".
Stylistically "Get Dead or Die Trying" is not surprisingly a continuation of the death metal/goregrind sound on "A New Dawn for the Dead (2005)". I´m not sure what inspired the name change, but it sure wasn´t a change of style or sound. One thing that has changed is the quality of the band´s music, which is definitely higher than it was on the predecessor. Gorerotted were always a decent act, but they seldom reached a higher level of excellence (although I can´t help but smile every time I listen to "Can't fit her Limbs in the Fridge"). To my ears "Get Dead or Die Trying" comes closer to reaching those heights.
The material are generally catchy, powerful, and relatively varied death metal with deathgrind elements. Sharp brutal riffs, both heavy parts and fast-paced blasting, and good variation in the vocal department with both growling and higher pitched aggressive snarling vocals. The Rotted have also incorporated a couple of more atmospheric tracks in the short instrumental "A Brief Moment of Regret", which is placed as a breather in the middle of the album, and in the closing 6:41 minutes long instrumental "28 Days Later", which is a cover of the "In the House - In a Heartbeat" track, from the soundtrack to the 2002 zombie/virus movie "28 Days Later". The remaining tracks are more regular death metal/deathgrind tracks featuring the usual gore/bizarre humor lyrics which song titles like "Angel of Meth", "It's Like There's a Party in My Mouth (And Everyone's Being Sick)", and "Fear and Loathing in Old London Town" are testimonies to.
"Get Dead or Die Trying" features a powerful, detailed, and well sounding production, which suits the material perfectly. So upon conclusion it´s a quality release from The Rotted and definitely a good start under the new band name. It´s not the most original nor the most unique sounding release in the style, but the album features a good flow and variation, which make it both entertaining while it plays and memorable beyond its playing time. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.