EP REVIEW: Death Covenant – Fetid Zombie

Mark Riddick is a household name in the death metal underground. But though he is best known for his iconic illustrative style in creating logos, album covers and merchandise designs for all manner of artists, Riddick‘s contribution to the death metal lexicon stretches further than his illustrations. For just over a decade, under the moniker FETID ZOMBIE, Riddick has been creating a steady stream of filth-ridden, gore-obsessed old school death metal, releasing six full length albums, two EPs and a whopping 14 split releases. With the seventh album due in the coming months via Transcending Obscurity Records, FETID ZOMBIE have released their third EP, Death Covenant, to give the world a taste of what to expect from the new album. 

Riddick has always worn his old-school influences on his sleeve with FETID ZOMBIE, and Death Covenant opener Swarm Of Filth is no different. Kicking things off with wonderfully quintessential ’90s riffing, machine-gun precise double bass from session drummer Brian Forman and bursts of lead work, Death Covenant‘s opening number brings a brutal dose of OSDM fun. Jaye Quigely of Irish death metallers ZEALOT CULT handles the vocals throughout the EP, and as expected from his main hustle, delivers excellent. Two guest solos from INFERI‘s Malcolm Pugh and ARSIS‘ James Malone see the track to a close as FETID ZOMBIE crash into the remarkably catchy Necromanced From The Grave. A simpler offering, doubling down on the old-school fun, Pugh again makes his presence known, excellently blending his trademarked tech-death shred with plenty of OSDM atmosphere.

Atonement Through Blood, the only track to not feature a guest solo, is a punishingly short blast. Synths add a new layer of atmosphere to the chorus led by Quigely, fading suddenly into silence and ending Atonement Through Blood before you know it. In stark contrast, Death Covenant‘s closing title track clocks in at just shy of seven minutes, offering a huge level of progression from the fast, fun brutality the EP has delivered thus far. Falling barely short of epic, Pugh brings his brilliant songwriting chops into play, contributing hook-heavy melodies throughout and delivering one of the three closing guitar solos – alongside ARCH ENEMY‘s Michael Amott and a return from Malone. The synths touched upon in Atonement Through Blood make another return, adding to the grandiose nature of Death Covenant, and Quigely outdoes himself with his vocal performance here.

For those unfamiliar with Riddick‘s work outside of illustration, this is a brilliant jumping off point into the musical career of one of death metal’s most important, and unsung, heroes. Throughout the existence of FETID ZOMBIE, Riddick has masterfully managed to create both incredibly fun, gut-punching old-school death metal and grandiose, epic forays into musical darkness – Death Covenant sees both of these styles in (almost) equal measure, and proves to be an enticing taste of what’s to come from the eagerly awaited full-length.

Rating: 8/10

Death Covenant is out now via self release. 

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