The underground realm would have never sounded more filthy and heavy without the appearance of the new Swedeath BASTARD GRAVE’s “Vortex Of Disgust”. An utterly gruesome recording that easily surpasses their previous effort, “Diorama Of Human Suffering”, which was unleashed in 2019. Throughout their new album, the listener is given the glorious experience of stepping into the vortex of a morbid soundscape that is disgusting. It’s quite a treat for Death Metal heads who worship the music of decaying fury. The likes of ENTOMBED or CARNAGE can surface when it comes to old school Swedish Death Metal, either in its older or newer form. However, across those solid foundations, BASTARD GRAVE does a menacing job, as they are not here only circling through the dark past of the Swedish gutter. Since “What Lies Beyond”, they have taken great measures in making an apt description of their music, immersing themselves into a new territorial world of hideous music. With their new release, all of the recent lumbering sickness and madness that crawl in the shadows are once again setting their bar higher than before. From the moment of opening to the third track of “Vortex Of Disgust”, the listener can anticipate the primitive grooves that allow the vocalist to further the intimidating and ominous event. The stylistic shift is bound with groovy doom followed by an aggressive piece to balance their stinking music as well as enhance the old school way of Death Metal continues to evolve. Particularly their single, ‘Necrotic Ecstasy’, this is the kind of song that will grow thicker from time to time. It has a profound and comprehensive understanding of classic Death, Doom without drowning their Scandinavian identity and personal touch. A delightful break among the catastrophic soundscape is an infectious work of art. The slower department is inevitable, their rotting consistency on the fourth track, ‘Consumed And Forgotten’, is very enjoyable. There are sufficient details that are heavily attached to each part upon repeated listening. This factor makes the first four tracks worth coming back to frequently, whether it is the shift from doom-paced to a skull-beating faster riff or the hypnotic guitar melodies. The deadly groaning continues with ‘Nameless Horror’, which showcases the deeper ecstasy of BASTARD’s groove. A massive and memorable pile of riffs that are exhumed from the graves of traditional Death Metal. The relentless drum onslaught mixed with chunky and surreal guitar work in unison is the most detestable Death Metal one can hope for. The ancient resonance of AUTOPSY’s legacy emerges in ‘Hunger To Devour’. A fearsome intro elevates the doom savagery that comes through the pulverizing sway of impeccable barbaric sonic wall of riffs. That unpleasant element crushes with precise blows. The flow of this song is surprising yet elegant, and it perfectly fits with their ghastly approach. The last two songs are extremely rotten-sounding. This is not a somewhat standard way on how to navigate an abominable entity like BASTARD GRAVE. There are several doomed atmospheric areas that will leave the listener pondering. That lucid horror they reveal from the beginning to the end is non-negotiable. Its value is presented in the depth of their low-end sound which is rendered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studio. The sound production outcome here is beyond words. The clarity of this album seems equally important as the musical approach that the band is longing to engage, refining their good quality of extreme sound without losing the absolute rotten Death Metal that defines their character since 2012. In conclusion, “Vortex Of Disgust” is a quality release, the contender for best 2023 rotten Death Metal album even, from a band at the top of their game. If you seek your Death Metal that is heavy and disgusting check out www.facebook.com/bastardgrave or www.facebook.com/pulverisedrecords