Album Review – Avulsed / Phoenix Cryptobiosis (2025)

Spain’s own Death Metal veterans return in full force with a pulverizing new album, raising their violence to another level, sounding as brutal, heavy, intense and catchy as always.

With the new line-up in exhilarating form and a final touch of gore soaked magic applied by the mixing of Alejandro Lobo at Acórdica Studios, the mastering of Davide Billia at MK2 Studio, and a venomous artwork by Ukrainian illustrator Daemorph, the pulverizing Phoenix Cryptobiosis represents Madrid, Spain-based Death Metal veterans Avulsed at the peak of their form. Currently formed of the iconic frontman Dave Rotten, guitarists Victor Dws and Alejandro Lobo, bassist Alex Nihil and drummer Santiago Arroyo “GoG”, Avulsed are on absolute fire in their eighth studio album and the follow-up to their 2013 opus Ritual Zombi, raising their violence to another level, sounding as brutal, heavy, intense and catchy as always, turning the album into a pure delight for fans of Demigod, Carcass, Bolt Thrower and Cannibal Corpse, among others, with each track having a wealth of haunted vaults to explore (and you’ll just want the bloodshed to keep on coming).

Limbs Regeneration is evil, haunting and embracing form the very first second, an extended intro that will decimate your blackened minds before we face Lacerate to Dominate with its poetic yet caustic lyrics barked by Dave (“In the realm of shattered dreams / Where agony reigns supreme / Razor’s edge a bloodied gleam / Lacerate to crush the dream”) amidst a brutal Death Metal atmosphere. It’s time to open up the circle pit and begin the slamming feast with Blood Monolith, with Victor and Alejandro firing classic Death Metal riffs while Santiago hammers his drums nonstop, and they need less than three minutes to smash us like disgusting insects in Unrotted, followed by the also pulverizing Guts of the Gore Gods, with Santiago and Alex hammering their rumbling drums and bass, respectively, in the name of old school Death Metal. After such an overdose of violence, the title-track Phoenix Cryptobiosis brings to our avid ears that sinister, sluggish and gory version of Death Metal we all learned to love so much, and the final result is truly infernal.

Santiago then sets the pace with his classic beats in the fast and furious extravaganza titled Devotion for Putrefaction, with Dave once again melting our faces with his deep guttural roars, followed by Neverborn Monstrosity, five minutes of pure Death Metal showcasing the band’s passion for the extreme and an intense, bold atmosphere, with the riffage by Victor and Alejandro exhaling rage. They keep the momentum going with Dismembered, another savage display of Death Metal made in Spain where Dave sounds possessed on vocals; and Bio-Cadaver, carrying a charming name for an overdose of brutality, heaviness and gore blasted by Dave and his henchmen. Last but not least, Santiago brings an extra dosage of rage and insanity to their music in Wandering Putrid Souls, inviting us all to slam into the pit one final time together with those beyond talented servants of the extreme.

In a nutshell, Phoenix Cryptobiosis is everything you could desire from an unwavering, undiluted Death Metal album in this age of fractured loyalties and pandering to the thin-blooded masses, bringing forward a band that takes no prisoners in their quest for extreme music. Hence, you can join those Spanish metallers on Facebook and on Instagram to stay up to date with everything surrounding them, including their live concerts, stream their sick music on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of the infernal Phoenix Cryptobiosis from Xtreem Music’s BandCamp or webstore. Avulsed are coming in full force to crush our putrid bodies armed with their new album, and you better be prepared because impact is imminent, and it will be absolutely violent.

Best moments of the album: Blood Monolith, Devotion for Putrefaction and Dismembered.

Worst moments of the album: Limbs Regeneration.

Released in 2025 Xtreem Music

Track listing
1. Limbs Regeneration 2:55
2. Lacerate to Dominate 5:01
3. Blood Monolith 4:15
4. Unrotted 2:39
5. Guts of the Gore Gods 3:03
6. Phoenix Cryptobiosis 4:23
7. Devotion for Putrefaction 3:27
8. Neverborn Monstrosity 5:12
9. Dismembered 4:40
10. Bio-Cadaver 3:53
11. Wandering Putrid Souls 4:57

Band members
Dave Rotten – vocals
Victor Dws – guitars
Alejandro Lobo – guitars
Alex Nihil – bass
Santiago Arroyo “GoG” – drums

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