Album Review: Afgrund – The Dystopian (Afgrund Muzak)

Swedish death metal/grindcore band Afgrund have just released their fourth full-length album & first since 2012. The Dystopian is eleven tracks of short & crusty metal that comes in at just 23 minutes. The album is out now via Afgrund Muzak.

With barely a break between tracks, The Dystopian is an album that is brutally uncompromising. One that goes at a constant breakneck speed producing grinding hardcore with a punky death metal edge. Seemingly designed to pummel your mind into submission, its vile pace is disorientating & sickening.

That being said, it’s not without its rhythmic merits as the groove-infused Re-Exordium, hyper Callous & lower-tempo beat of The Great Rift prove.

Even when smashing out mind-melting grindcore riffs & ferocious vocals, Afgrund still showcase an exciting level of talent. You might think you’ve heard the best that grind has to offer but The Dystopian is a high point of a repetitive sub-genre.

It’s 23 minute run absolutely flies by in a hail of brutal riffs & beats as Archaic Plague, Smasher of Skulls & Demise Strategy cement the excellent & exciting chaos on show.

Afgrund – The Dystopian Full Track Listing:

1. Limitless Source of Power
2. Ruttna
3. Re-Exordium
4. Callous
5. Royalty of Crust
6. Crossfire Agent
7. (Yet) Another Way to Kill
8. The Great Rift
9. Archaic Plague
10. Smasher of Skulls
11. Demise Strategy

You can pick up The Dystopian over on Bandcamp & stream it via Apple Music below. Find out more about Afgrund on Facebook & Instagram.