Album Review: Church of the Dead – Beyond Death (Redefining Darkness Records)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, extreme metal band Church of the Dead have kept busy since their inception in 2012, releasing 6 EPs and 1 full length. Now, they return with their sophomore album, Beyond Death. Out on May 26th, 2023, via Redefining Darkness Records.

A thrilling concoction of black, death, punk, and more. Church of the Dead are a hard-working band who continue to push the extreme boundaries with this new record. Delivering more intensity in eight (seven if we’re only counting original) tracks than many bands do with much more.

Partially because Church of the Dead take a more measured and methodical approach, wanting to expand upon the limitations of the genres they draw from, but still being undeniably harsh and raw. The result is an album that brims with maggot-ridden life, pulls from the deepest and darkest recesses of hell, burns with punk-infused fire, and makes you grimace and gurn with delight.

 

 

Which makes the mean cover of Mayhem’s brutalising Chainsaw Gutsfuck all the more understandable.

Elsewhere, the likes of Tombdweller, Whore of Eden, Wormwood and Floating in Blood provide a bevy of guttural nasty sounds to sate any hunger and thirst for hellacious extreme heaviness. Yet arguably the standout track is Christborn. Simply because it really shows off a different side to Church of the Dead. A track that is more epic, more extravagant, and more intense than anything elsewhere, even if it isn’t the most forthright when it comes to speed.

Now into their second decade of existence, it’s time that the wider world started paying more attention to the noise that Church of the Dead create and Beyond Death is definitely going to help that happen.

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Church of the Dead – Beyond Death Track Listing:

1. Dawn Of The Wizard
2. Tombdweller
3. Ashes Of The World
4. Chainsaw Gutsfuck (Mayhem Cover)
5. Whore Of Eden
6. Christborn
7. Wormwood
8. Floating In Blood




Links

Bandcamp | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | Redefining Darkness Records

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  • Owner/Administrator/Editor/Writer/Interviewer/YouTuber - you name it, I do it. I love gaming, horror movies, and all forms of heavy metal and rock. I'm also a Discworld super-fan and love talking all things Terry Pratchett. Do you wanna party? It's party time!

Church of the Dead - Beyond Death (Redefining Darkness Records)
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