ALBUM REVIEW: Dreams Of The Disturbed – Coffin Rot

Whether you like your death metal served up with a hint of spookiness, pure grot or an old-school tinge, there’s no denying that in the last few years we’ve seen a great surge of newer bands taking the baton from the likes of legends such as OBITUARY, CARCASS and ENTOMBED. Whilst the older bands are certainly not ready to crawl into a coffin any time soon, the newer generation including 200 STAB WOUNDS, GATECREEPER and FROZEN SOUL offer classic and new fans of the genre more to get their sharpened teeth into, and COFFIN ROT are no different.

Since releasing their debut album A Monument For The Dead back in 2019, the Oregon-based death metal quintet have been making a name for themselves in the underground and kicking up a stench. So after five years, how does their sophomore full-length Dreams Of The Disturbed stand up?

From the get go, COFFIN ROT are very much what you see is what you get, with no trends, no twists and no holds barred death metal, but it’s fair to say that it takes a little while for the album to kick you straight in the gut. It’s not until fourth track Unmarked, Shallow Grave has the galloping ferocity that keeps the momentum going and you feel fully defrosted from your own slumber. Sixth track Hands Of Death holds catchy riffs akin to the melodic minds of DEATH, whilst the overall chug and HM2 worship resembles classic GRAVE and there’s no denying the influences throughout the album.

The musicianship is there across the board, with cheeky little bass moments, finger tapping guitar solos to break up the chug and obviously, some blast beat brilliance from drummer Derek Johnson, however at only half an hour in length, the fact the album takes half of the time to get going leaves little to really get you hooked. If you’re looking for something to break up your usual rotting rotation of murky death metal, COFFIN ROT are a good addition to the mix, but the idolisation of the old school whilst not really adding a different flare may not keep it on repeat, especially when compared to some of their Maggot Stomp labelmates who are kicking up such a fuss in the scene at the moment.

Rating: 6/10

Dreams Of The Disturbed is out now via Maggot Stomp.

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