DEFUNTO is a Death / Doom Metal band from San José, Costa Rica and this compilation “El Presagio / Demo 2021” is a collection of their previous “El Presagio” EP (released in January 2024) and their “Demo”, from 2021. “El Presagio / Demo 2021” was released on December 12, 2024 by Fallen Temple Records in both CD and digital formats. Spanning over 32 minutes, this release is a testament of the most oppressive atmospheres with catchy yet crushing Death / Doom Metal roots. With ex-members of PAZUZU, BLOODSOAKED NECROVOID or MORBID FUNERAL, DEFUNTO brings their own brand of pestilence to the scene. When I play DEFUNTO I listen to influences from bands like DISEMBOWELMENT, THERGOTHON, BEYOND BELIEF (Netherlands) or HEARSE, but they definitely establish their own style. The vocals are dense, macabre as fuck and the atmosphere throughout these four tracks is thick with despair and darkness. The compilation kicks off with the title track, ‘El Presagio’, (my favorite one), a track that mixes accessibility with suffocating heaviness. The track is both catchy and oppressive, with an undercurrent of Doom that permeates every note in the air. The second track, ‘Shapes Of Sorrow’, is a cover of the classic BEYOND BELIEF song, showcasing their influences, while still maintaining a unique sound that does justice to the original. The haunting vocals keep the track steeped in sorrow and melancholy. ‘Synodus Horrenda’ follows, beginning with a piano intro that feels like a slow, inevitable march to death. The track transitions into a dense, suffocating atmosphere that envelops your ears, giving them a glimpse of the grim finality that awaits. Closing out the release is ‘Homini’, the heaviest track on the compilation, which finishes things off with a dense journey that feels as if it could bury you alive. It’s the perfect conclusion to a release that masterfully blends Doom, Death and atmospheric elements into a cohesive whole. In my opinion, “El Presagio / Demo 2021” is an impressive showcase of DEFUNTO’s potential, as the band manages to carve out their dark path, proving that they are a force that came to be rooted in the Costa Rican deepest underground. I can’t wait to know of any upcoming release. Check them out! https://defuntodoomcr.bandcamp.com, www.facebook.com/fallentemple666