UMUR "Necrovation" is the 2nd full-length studio album by Swedish death metal act Necrovation. The album was released through Agonia Recrods in June 2012. There´s been one lineup change since the band´s debut full-length studio album "Breed Deadness Blood" from 2008, as Necrovation have added a second guitarist to the ranks in Fredrick Almström, effectively making them a four-piece on this eponymously titled sophomore album.

"Breed Deadness Blood (2008)" featured an old school, yet quite adventurous, Swedish death metal style, and the material on this 9 track, 47:00 minutes long album continues and further develops that style. It´s raw and filthy old school death metal, but there is a level of sophistication and creativity in the songwriting that isn´t standard for the genre. Thankfully not in an arty farty progressive kind of fashion, but more in a way to make the music an adventurous and dynamic listen. I´m reminded slightly of some of the releases by fellow countrymen and contemporary artists Tribulation (their first two albums) and Morbus Chron.

The material on the album are generally well written and as mentioned above quite intriguing and adventurous, but it doesn´t mean the music is perfect through and through. Personally I could have wished for a few more instantly catchy and memorable riffs or vocals phrases, but for all its old school death metal glory "Necrovation" isn´t the most accessible release, and that´s both a good and a bad thing, probably depending on the ears who listen to it.

"Necrovation" features a raw, brutal, and detailed sound production, which suits the material perfectly. The musicianship is on a high level on all posts too, and upon conclusion "Necrovation" is a worthy follow-up album to "Breed Deadness Blood (2008)". The pairing of old school death metal authenticity and above standard creative songwriting ideas, work pretty well and a 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.

Time Signature Pulse of Towering Madness...

Genre: death metal

Necrovation's early releases were heralded for their old school raw death metal approach. Things have changed quite a bit since then, and the music on their eponymous sophomore effort is very different from the style of death metal they are known for.

We are still dealing with old school death metal with a lot of killer riffage, and there is a certain rawness to some of the passages in some of the songs (featuring blastbeats and the whole kit and kaboodle). However, these elements now figure just as components in a much bigger picture. Every track features a host of different riffs - some aggressive and brutal while others are quirky and kind of progressive (with a couple even having a Pestilence-like jazzy feel to them). Rather than the typical chaotic guitar solos of old school death metal (nothing wrong with them, by the way), Necrovation make use of very melodic guitar solos on this album, which work excellently with the rest of the music.

Interestingly, the guitars have more of a twang to them than the more typical brutality informed sound, but that is a plus in this case, as this twang goes well together with the compositions on the album. One thing that is particularly interesting is the use of simple stomping rhythms that create a nice contrast to the more quirky and out-there passages. Necrovation have definitely developed into a band capable of experimenting with various textures and expressions.

"Necrovation" is characterized by en eclectic eccentricism, and, for my money, it is an innovative and original death metal album.