GRUESOME — Savage Land (review)

GRUESOME — Savage Land album cover Album · 2015 · Death Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
UMUR
"Savage Land" is the debut full-length studio album by US, California based death metal act Gruesome. The album was released through Relapse Records in April 2015. Gruesome was formed in 2014 by among others former Malevolent Creation drummer Gus Rios (who plays drums and some lead guitars on "Savage Land") and Exhumed frontman/guitarist Matt Harvey.

The goal was clear from the start. Gruesome wanted to play old school death metal like it sounded in the 80s. Listening to "Savage Land" it´s clear from the start, that their goal was achieved. It´s especially "Leprosy (1988)" by Death that the listener is reminded of when listening to "Savage Land", and it´s hard not to think that Gruesome made a deliberate tribute rather than trying to forge an original sound. That´s the premise though, so if you´re surprised you haven´t payed attention.

While the material certainly isn´t original sounding, it´s still quite catchy and well written. The musicianship is also on a high level, and these guys certainly know how to play old school US death metal with credibility. The guitar solos deserve a special mention as they are very well played. They are shared between Gus Rios, Matt Harvey, and Daniel Gonzalez. The vocals are growling, but of the more intelligible type, and they are generally not far from sounding like Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied).

Featuring a well sounding production too, "Savage Land" is a quality release on most parameters, and if you adjust your expectations to "Savage Land" being more or less a "Leprosy (1988)"-era Death worship album and not a death metal release featuring original sounding material, I think most fans of old school US death metal would get something out of listening to this one. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.
Share this review

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Antibeauty Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mana Earth Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Intimate Isolation Hardcore Punk
GOOD FALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Dark Future Sludge Metal
PAIN CHEMISTRY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Violent Delights Hardcore Punk
GALLEONS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Galleons - Electric Emotions
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 18 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us