Great Dane Records reissued a remastered edition of EXHUMAN’s second album, “Fear Of Oneself”, which was primarily released independently by the band back in 2010. They formed back in 1998 with the moniker UNDEAD in Sicily, Italy and after 2003 changed to EXHUMAN. Though EXHUMAN split up after this second album, but its early releases kept the mark of their visceral attempts to plunge back into the raw, unrelenting depths of old school Death Metal. As if reawaken something after long delay, this record recalls a time when Death Metal was about pure power and primal aggression. Released with the line-up of Painkiller (OCCULTATOR, FANGTOOTH) and Pestilence on guitars, Giuseppe “Buzz” Nicolò (DEGENARATED, TRAUMAGAIN) on bass / vocals and Animal Profanator (OCCULTATOR, FANGTOOTH) on drums, “Fear Of Oneself” has seven potent tracks (with an intro and outro) spanning including just over 35 minutes, upholding ruthless execution without gimmicks. From the opening intro to ‘Pierce The Ground’, EXHUMAN wastes no time in unleashing a barrage of crushing riffs and guttural vocals. The songwriting is sharp and clinical, where riffs and blast beats executed with precision that feels almost mechanical in its relentlessness. ‘Before Burial’ and ‘The Night Falls Down’ further demonstrates their ability to combine sheer heaviness with subtle melodic undercurrents, guided by memorable hooks that refuse to let go. Deep into the record, tracks as ‘Brain Prison’ and ‘War-Warm-Worms’ come with cold-blooded, yet deeply engaging in their old school brutality that minds crave for. With lyrical commentary about society and philosophy throughout, what truly makes this record solid and strong is their songwriting capability that shows unwavering dedication to the Death Metal tradition while injecting just enough modern production and melodic finesse to prevent it from sounding like a mere throw off. The latest remaster brings out a new level of depth in the mix, allowing each drum hit to resonate and each riff to slice through the atmosphere with clarity. Yet, the tracks retain their rawness, the grime and grit that make underground Death Metal feel authentic and alive. In a scene increasingly crowded with complexity for complexity’s sake, EXHUMAN’s approach was surely refreshing, and a brutal reminder that sometimes the most savage move is to strip everything down to the core and deliver Death Metal as it was meant to be. Primal, punishing and unapologetically fierce. At the very end of the record, the inclusion of a haunting outro performed by DYSPHORIA adds a fitting close to this relentless journey. These all said it enough that the manic Italians Metallers of EXHUMAN should have continued as on this record they didn’t just pay homage to the genre’s roots, but also remind again that raw power never goes out of style. This re-issue comes as a hand numbered limited-edition release and holds it all to satisfy those who urge the grimy, underground essence in their Death Metal. To find out more about the record and label, visit www.facebook.com/greatdanerecords.