ROTHEADS - Slither in Slime - CD
The long-awaited 2nd full-length by this Romanian band. This putrid ensemble was formed in Bucharest back in 2014 as an old-school Death Metal side-project to the experimental doom/noise/stoner-improv band Keeng Ra´at: both bands contained the same three members. By 2015, five songs were written, and recordings began in December of that year. Ultimately, six songs (plus intro and outro) came out in April 2016 as the "Unfazed by Death" demo, which turned out to be a remarkable, sick trip into the bowels of murky and foul-smelling Death Metal. In the meantime, another guitarist joined the band, and the original bassist left and rejoined later on. The original drummer and vocalist also left the band in August of that year, and another drummer then joined, while the vocals have been henceforth handled by the original guitarist. With that lineup thus set, Rotheads burst from the bowels of the ugliest underground with their aptly-fucking-titled debut album, "Sewer Fiends", for Memento Mori in 2018. Unyielding and unapologetic, Rotheads took their aggregate influences -particularly from the classic early 90´s Finnish scene (Convulse, Abhorrence/Amorphis, Sentenced, Demigod, Depravity), as well as other timeless crypt dwellers such as Autopsy, Gorement, Edge of Sanity, Accidental Suicide, Incubator and Asphyx- and proceeded to create a mesmerizingly murky and moody work with their debut album. The sewage was piled high and plentifully, and true diehards took notice. And still the sewers call! A four-way split with Vorus, Engrossed and Eruptive followed a year later, but the sewers of the soul that pollute Rotheads continued to pulse, patiently lying in wait for the right time to strike. And strike they do with their sophomore full-length, "Slither in Slime"! Another aptly-fucking-titled album, "Slither in Slime" immediately sounds like Rotheads, but something strange -something altogether unwholesome and even otherworldly- is at work here. While no doubt as crushing as ever, there´s a cool/calm/collected execution to the album that creates tension and unease, allowing those same foul and fetid riffs to wash over you with filthier effect, and something approaching "atmosphere" results. Patient? Yes, but the payoff is even grander, as a swirling creepiness seduces even the most closeminded death metaller. We could also say that "Slither in Slime" is catchy as fuck, but that should be apparent to anyone who dares to step into Rotheads´ newest sewer. Simply massive? You fucking bet! Graced with appropriately stark cover art courtesy of Mörtuus, and suitably tendrilous mastering courtesy of Ted Tringo, Rotheads have eclipsed the lofty standards set by their debut: you are hereby commanded to Slither in Slime!