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Album Review – Gorebringer / Condemned to Suffer (2024)

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UK’s own bringers of gore are back with their third full-length beast, their most personal album so far reflecting different struggles they’ve gone through in the past five years.

Influenced mostly by Death Metal pioneers from 90’s the likes of Carcass, At the Gates and Dissection, while also presenting modern elements in their music, as well as Black Metal hints to the mix to make the music sound even darker and more intense, London, UK-based Melodic Death Metal beast Gorebringer has just unleashed upon us their third full-length opus, entitled Condemned to Suffer, the follow-up to their demented previous releases A Craving For Flesh and Terrified Beyond Measure. Formed of Serpent “Bilge Özce” on vocals and Stench “KAZ B” on the guitars and bass, with the support of session drummer Carrion, Condemned to Suffer is the band’s most personal album so far, showcasing lyrics that are more mature and complex, mostly reflecting different struggles that the duo has gone through in the past five years as a band, having worked really hard to make the entire album sound truly profound.

An overdose of brutality and rage flows from all instruments in the opening track Under the Full Moon’s Pale Light, bringing to our avid ears an amazing job by Carrion on drums while Stench slashes his stringed axe nonstop, providing Serpent with exactly what he needs to roar like a beast. The band continues to hammer their instruments mercilessly in the title-track Condemned to Suffer, again showcasing elements from Black Metal and even Melodic Black Metal added to their core essence; and get ready to slam into the circle pit like there’s no tomorrow to the sound of the venomous Melodic Death Metal feast Infernal Symphony, with Stench yet again stealing the spotlight with his caustic riffs, whereas Ants is absolutely devastating and obscure, with Serpent’s gnarls and Stench’s unstoppable guitars being flawlessly supported by Carrion’s drums, not to mention its official video might be one of the best AI-generated ones ever.

There’s no time to breathe, nor any sing of peace, as Gorebringer bring gore and savagery to our putrid ears in Lady Midday, with the hammering beats by Carrion being complemented by the thunderous bass by Stench, followed by Théâtre of the Grotesque, a pulverizing tune that reeks of At the Gates, proving how much those guys love their idols, with Serpent barking manically nonstop for our total delight. It’s then pedal to the metal in the infuriated aria Visions of Terror, with the strident riffage by Stench matching perfectly with the infernal drumming by Carrion in another lesson in melodeath; and last but not least, get ready for almost seven minutes of melodious yet infernal sounds in Embodiment of Aggression, which certainly proves the band has infinite stamina and passion for extreme music as they don’t stop blasting heaviness and fury from their instruments until the very last second of the song.

Serpent and Stench are undoubtedly one of the most hardworking duos of the current Extreme Metal scene in the UK (and probably also worldwide), and you can give them a shout and let them know how much you love their austere, visceral music and their resilience by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their venomous music on Spotify or on Apple Music, and of course by purchasing their excellent new opus from the Great Dane Records’ BandCamp page. Put differently, Serpent and Stench are condemned to suffer under the full moon’s pale light, and they’re inviting us all to join them in that eternal darkness to the sound of their most bestial album to date.

Best moments of the album: Under the Full Moon’s Pale Light, Ants and Théâtre of the Grotesque.

Worst moments of the album: Absolutely none.

Released in 2024 Great Dane Records

Track listing
1. Under the Full Moon’s Pale Light 6:37
2. Condemned to Suffer 4:57
3. Infernal Symphony 4:32
4. Ants 3:56
5. Lady Midday 5:34
6. Théâtre of the Grotesque 5:19
7. Visions of Terror 3:39
8. Embodiment of Aggression 6:56

Band members
Serpent “Bilge Özce” – vocals
Stench “KAZ B” – guitars, bass

Guest musician
Carrion – drums (session)

Album Review – Gorebringer / A Craving For Flesh (2019)

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A gory fusion of Melodic Death Metal with more extreme styles blasted by a bloodthirsty trio from the UK, eviscerating your ears and minds ruthlessly.

Proudly carrying the flag of Melodic Death Metal everywhere they go, but always venturing through more aggressive and gory lands, London, England-based triumvirate Gorebringer has just unleashed upon us their debut full-length opus entitled A Craving For Flesh, highly recommended for admirers of the fusion of speed, violence and melody blasted by bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and At The Gates. Formed in 2017 by vocalist Blööd Wörm (also known as Gorebringer himself), guitarist and bassist Stench, and drummer Carrion, Gorebringer offer in A Craving For Flesh everything we love in traditional Swedish Melodic Death Metal, but of course with their own British (and utterly putrid) twist. Mixed and mastered by TsunTsun Productions, and featuring a demonic, parasite-inspired artwork by Kumislizer Design, A Craving For Flesh will eviscerate your ears and mind ruthlessly, showing Gorebringer are not among us to make new friends, but instead to pulverize us with their bloodthirsty onrush of sounds.

An ominous intro featuring the dark keys by guest B.ulugüney ignites the demolishing The Fog, where Carrion showcases all his technique and fury from the very first beat while Blööd Wörm’s hellish gnarls sound a lot more Black Metal than Melodic Death Metal, therefore bringing a humongous amount of obscurity to the music. Then deep guttural growls and nonstop blast beats permeate the air in Meatporn, showcasing classic Death Metal-like lyrics (“Rotten breath fills the air / As the eyes rolling back, / Sweat drops on smelly-sexy / Corpse of your beloved one.”), as well as some sick Carcass-inspired riffs and solos and demented bass punches powerfully delivered by Stench; and it’s time to slam into the circle pit to the high-octane and extremely vile Rivers Of Blood, with its strident, metallic guitars adding more balance to the overall devastation brought forth by the trio, resulting in a lesson in modern Melodic Death Metal with a truly devilish vibe.

In My Sweet Knife, a crisp and austere fusion of Melodic and Blackened Death Metal tailored for admirers of the darkest forms of metal music, we’re treated to over four minutes of nonstop action where the vocals by Blööd Wörm overflow adrenaline and rage, whereas in The Cabin a movie-inspired beginning evolves into a to a dark, raw and neck-breaking sonic extravaganza where Carrion is absolutely precise and violent on drums, with the overall musicality flirting with classic Black Metal at times. And back to a more Arch Enemy/Carcass-inspired mode, the trio fires sheer hatred and madness in Shattered Sanity, with Stench continuing to slash his strings mercilessly while the infernal roars by Blööd Wörm get even more piercing and menacing than before.

Bloodsoaked Chapel is a sonic havoc blending the most visceral elements from Melodic Death Metal and modern-day Hardcore where its bass couldn’t sound more metallic, also presenting demented, controversial lyrics (“Oh sodomized slaves of my mine / Stop whining, surrender and have fun / My rage will grow faster, darker / Digging your holes is my absolute pleasure / Your flesh is my most precious toy / Your skin decorates my den perfectly”). After such high level of aggressiveness, the trio slows things down a bit and offers us a darker, more introspective composition titled The Hollow, clearly inspired by the music by Arch Enemy. It’s not that this is a bad song, but in my humble opinion Gorebringer sound a lot more cohesive and vibrant when they play at the speed of light. Lastly, Carrion accelerates the band’s wicked pace in the closing tune, the instrumental beast named The Restless Forest, once again flirting with Melodic Black Metal, while Stench gives a lecture in electricity and groove with his guitar shredding and bass jabs.

I’m pretty sure the guys from Gorebringer are beyond satisfied with the outcome of their collective efforts in A Craving For Flesh (available for a full listen on YouTube), and they definitely should be, as their debut album is indeed an amazing work of contemporary Melodic Death Metal infused with the goriest elements from traditional Death Metal the likes of Cannibal Corpse. Hence, if you want to show your true support to this talented trio from the UK, go check what they’re up to on Facebook, and don’t forget to purchase your copy of A Craving For Flesh from the Gate Of The Silver Key Records’ BandCamp page or from Discogs, helping Gorebringer spread their visceral, acid and absolutely sanguinary creations to the four corner of our rotten and evil world.

Best moments of the album: Meatporn, Rivers Of Blood and Bloodsoaked Chapel.

Worst moments of the album: The Hollow.

Released in 2019 Gate Of The Silver Key Records

Track listing
1. The Fog 5:54
2. Meatporn 3:17
3. Rivers Of Blood 3:46
4. My Sweet Knife 4:34
5. The Cabin 6:29
6. Shattered Sanity 4:42
7. Bloodsoaked Chapel 3:30
8. The Hollow 4:30
9. The Restless Forest 4:41

Band members
Blööd Wörm – vocals
Stench – guitars, bass
Carrion – drums

Guest musician
B.ulugüney – keyboards