ALBUM REVIEW: Death is Something There Between – Reek

Another new band has entered the fray of the metal world, with REEK who have released their debut record Death Is Something There Between via Testimony Records. The band is formed by Håkan Stuvemark on lead guitar and vocals, fellow guitarist Rogga Johansson, drummer Jon Skäre and Mathias Back on bass, and the seeds of the project were sown in the summer of 2019 by Stuvemark and Johansson.

Kicking things off for the record is Condemned by the Hands of Pain. The band have been labelled as a regeneration of old school death ‘n’ roll, and for those who are familiar with the genre will certainly pick up on those vibes in the opening seconds. The speed is what you’d expect from classic death metal, the riffs from the guitars and the emphasis of the bass really do send shivers down your spine, and when the vocals come into play it does take you back to the height of the genre. The song is pure energy throughout and if it doesn’t get you headbanging then nothing will.

Up next is Flesh Golem, which certainly in the opening few seconds does turn the tempo down a notch, but quickly that increases as we get into the first verse. It isn’t quite as spine tingling as the opening track but there is still enough to tick all the boxes for any metalhead – it’s loud, it’s aggressive and again will no doubt get you moving as you listen to it. The recipe for the rest of the record is pretty much the same as the opening two records, which for a new band and project you would expect as they need to establish their own sound for future works.

The songs are good all throughout, but there are certainly some tracks which stand out more from the rest and are real highlights. One of those is Foaming at the Mouth. In terms of the intro it is very similar to the opener, though the riffs in the opening moments do keep you on your toes. It is also the longest track on the album, and as a result it is a bit more experimental and there is more than one breakdown, at parts of the song where you don’t expect it, and really keeps your attention.

Another track that sticks out in particular is Black Hole Star. Again, the first few seconds contain what you’d expect from a typical death metal track in terms of the sound, but when it gets into the verse and chorus it does seem a touch softer compared to other tracks, and you don’t feel the need to headbang quite as aggressively when listening to it.

It is hard to try and reinvent the wheel when it comes to death ‘n’ roll – those who follow the genre and have invested their time listening to some of the founding fathers in years gone by will know what they are in store for, and it is definitely worth listening for the nostalgia. As for those who aren’t familiar with it, then you’re in for a real treat with Death is Something There Between. REEK have put together an impressive debut record, and certainly have laid strong foundations for the future.

Rating: 8/10

Death is Something There Between is out now via Testimony Records. 

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