Album Review: Mutilated By Zombies – Scenes from the Afterlife (Redefining Darkness Records)

Mutilated By Zombies, the Iowa death metal power trio are back with a vengeance with their latest 9-song offering, Scenes from the Afterlife. Out on March 8th, 2024, via Redefining Darkness Records.

Ugly music for ugly times. Mutilated By Zombies might still employ the same forceful, fast, technical, and savage sound as found on their debut record five years ago, but they have come a long way as far as listenability goes. This is a much more refined band, far less raw and chaotic, but still sounding as putrid as ever… if not more.

From the moment the first few tracks come blasting out with the force of a tsunami, the feral state of this album is perfectly clear. Headcount Rising, Reciprocal Horror, and Molten all serve to beat the mind into a mushy state. All while technical touches sear through what’s left with white hot intent. It’s f**king delightful and a true showcase of how far this band has come already.

Think all death metal sounds the same? Mutilated By Zombies will prove emphatically that tis not the case. Delivering heavy violence at an egregiously dark level with Decontamination, leaving a strong feeling of nausea with the instrumentals of Gutsplit, and unforgiving rampant nature of Eternal Hour. Another group of tracks that batter the senses, but not to the extent that they numb the mind to the point of desensitisation. Mutilated By Zombies want you to feel everything.

There is a chance to take a breath though as Reincarnate is an intermission, one with a sinister vibe, but a chance to drink in some atmosphere. All so you’re ready to receive something outrageous with Severely Severed. A cacophony of feral noise, crashing instruments and blistering vocal howls, it is harshness personified. By comparison, the closing track Behold the Demigod could lack some bite, but that’s not the Mutilated By Zombies way and it’s another f**king ugly blast of lovable noise.

Mutilated By Zombies have given their all into perfecting their brand of technically tinged death metal and it really has paid off. Scenes from the Afterlife is a beast of a release.

Mutilated By Zombies – Scenes from the Afterlife Track Listing:

1. Headcount Rising
2. Reciprocal Horror
3. Molten
4. Decontamination
5. Gutsplit
6. Eternal Hour
7. Reincarnate
8. Severely Severed
9. Behold The Demigod

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