Taking Death Metal deep into the caverns of old(e), this newborn beast from Down Under will consume your soul with its debut opus, a 35-minute spelunk into those caverns.

A continuation of Australia’s late, great Innsmouth, a certifiably cult band whose 2014 debut album Consumed by Elder Sign is considered a classic by the underground-dwelling souls who heard it, Black/Death Metal creature Olde Outlier is unleashing upon humanity their debut opus, titled From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves, a four-song/35-minute spelunk into those caverns. Formed of the Dyer Brothers, Beau Dyer on the guitar and Neil Dyer on drums, alongside Mark Appleton on vocals, Ben Askew on the guitar, and Greenbank on bass, the band simmers their cauldron with ones both culter and less detectable, from the earthy likes of Amon Goeth, Martyrium, Head of the Demon, and Florida’s Equinox to the more ethereal undercurrents of Ophthalamia and even echoes of early Katatonia and Tiamat in their debut, taking the Death Metal by Innsmouth deeper into the caverns of old(e), but ones totally their own, and suitably extending the sulfurous splendor across epic track lengths.

The Revellers already begins in full force, offering an overdose of raw Death Metal where Mark barks the song’s demented words viciously accompanied by the intricate and hammering beats and fills by Neil, all while Beau and Ben slash their axes manically. Then bringing elements from the most primeval form of Doom Metal to their core deadly sonority, we’re treated to more of their caustic riffs and rhythmic beats in The Pounding of Hooves, also presenting some interesting breaks and variations to give the whole song an extra kick; followed by Swept, presenting eight minutes of hard hitting, ruthless Death Metal from Down Under, with the stylish rockin’ riffs and solos by Beau and Ben sounding thrilling and captivating until the very end. Their last breath of elderly Death Metal comes in the form of All Is Bright, with the raspy vociferations by Mark walking hand in hand with their melodic yet visceral instrumental, resulting in a very detailed and consequently vibrant aria of extreme music.

Altogether, and with keenly timed bits of clean and chorused guitar, From Shallow Lives to Shallow Graves becomes an utterly immersive experience that defies time itself, showing Olde Outlier are simply eternal, existing in a forgotten realm that’s worth the journey a hundredfold. Those metallic cavemen are not easy to find, though, as they’re not present in any type of social media; however, you can still purchase their primeval debut offering from Iron Bonehead’s BandCamp or webstore, letting their cadaverous sounds consume your putrid soul mercilessly. Olde Outlier play the rawest, most primitive form of Death Metal you can think of, and once you start listening to the visceral sounds form their new album, there’s no way back.

Best moments of the album: The Pounding of Hooves and All Is Bright.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2025 Iron Bonehead

Track listing
1. The Revellers 7:54
2. The Pounding of Hooves 10:55
3. Swept 8:05
4. All Is Bright 7:50

Band members
Mark Appleton – vocals
Beau Dyer – guitar
Ben Askew – guitar
Greenbank – bass
Neil Dyer – drums