Album Review: Benighted – Ekbom (Season of Mist)

Benighted, the French purveyors of brutal death metal & grindcore, will unleash their tenth full-length album ‘Ekbom’ on April 12th, 2024, via Season of Mist.

An album steeped in dark and evil vibes; Ekbom begins with eerie atmosphere (Prodome) before erupting into cathartic chaos with Scars. From the very start, Benighted make it abundantly clear that ten albums in, they’re still as capable as ever when it comes to delivering speeding savagery and hateful heaviness.

Though there was never really any doubt, as consistency is a key factor as to the beloved nature of the band. We expect, but never demand, brutality that blends eccentric grindcore with uncompromising death metal, and Benighted always deliver. Keeping things sounding so aggressively intense with the head banger that is Morgue, and the manic Le Vice des Entrailles. One third of the way through this album, and the brain ache is already setting in through the sheer heaviness of the what is on offer here.

There’s no temptation to stop though, Benighted are on incredible form and the crashing drumbeats and hefty riffing of both Nothing Left to Fear and the title track, proves that. Both stunning efforts with unconventional touches and blistering moments of groove.

Then along comes the fabulous Metastasis, a track built on the foundations of death metal, but with even more layers of darkness, and featuring a killer guitar solo. It’s going to be a firm favourite of the fanbase, for sure.

Although, there’s many-a-track on this album that Benighted can fans can fall in love with. Not just what has already come, but what follows, as we get frenzied groove-infused mayhem and grinding destructiveness with A Reason for Treason (the vocals are f**king gross here) and Fame of the Grotesque (the bass is f**king weird here). Heavy music that you just fall in love with.

No further proof needed, but there’s still the no-nonsense Scapegoat, callous Flesh Against Flesh, and the garish ugliness of Mother Earth, Mother Whore. Benighted keeping the bar at an impossible high right to the very end.

The biggest highlight though, doesn’t come in the form of one individual track, but rather the small touches of flair that Benighted have in each and every one. Every single track has a moment, sometimes super-short, that stands out. It’s what makes this album all the more special, and it is a bloody special album.

Benighted – Ekbom Track Listing:

1. Prodome
2. Scars
3. Morgue
4. Le Vice des Entrailles
5. Nothing Left to Fear
6. Ekbom
7. Metastasis
8. A Reason for Treason
9. Fame of the Grotesque
10. Scapegoat
11. Flesh Against Flesh
12. Mother Earth, Mother Whore

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