I honestly got to admit that it’s been a while since I had the chance to review a real good record. Due to a few reasons (mainly because I am always way too slow when the work is getting distributed), leaving me ending up getting the ones which aren’t picked by anyone yet. It sometimes makes me feel a bit like I have to choose the last, sad and unathletic kids into my soccer team. Seems like an honorable and respected job to take care of. But it’s not. Because there are reasons why no one picks them. Sounds harsh and Darwinistic but review world is cold and brutal. This time, in time, I have picked myself a winner! And an old one, but who cares. “In Ancient Beliefs” is another work from Xtreem Music, remastered from the 2001 masterpiece of DETERIOROT. A record which broadens the horizon of Death Metal. More darkness more doom. Blurring the borders between Black, Death and Doom Metal. They have played that style of Death Metal already from the beginning on, since parts of them formed a band called MORTUARY in 1988. But they broke up and formed DETERIOROT in 1990. Since then their music is way darker to what was common back then. Through creating a waltzing, doomish sound by using transcendental repeated riffing and playing with feedbacks, they became pioneers for bands like BLOOD INCANTATION, PHRENELITH, CRUCIAMENTUM and DEAD CONGREGATION. Blast and midtempo groove sections merge into a wave of destructive chaos, involving disharmonic shredding as well as harmonic riffing and solo parts. A tight lead guitar and heavy bass work building a diverse and entertaining frame for this journey. What’s new on this version? Of course the sound is way clearer and the cover art changed. Not for the better though (well, tastes are different – Frank). Both covers are blunt and somehow aggressively irritating. Pretty sad for a re-release. And why they won’t release it on vinyl is also Xtreem Music’s secret. I mean if you put so much effort in reproducing the past do it with more love and dedication I think. This album would be worth to be handled that way. Check: www.facebook.com/deteriorot, www.xtreemmusic.com

Formed in 1990 this fantastic US band released a demo tape in ’92 and one year later an EP on Drowned entitled “Manifested Apparitions Of Unholy Spirits”. Both releases contain brutal and obscure Death Metal with an unholy and blasphemous atmosphere. Especially the EP was a remarkable piece of US Death Metal in the old-school style. But after this EP it was rather quiet in the DETERIOROT camp. So I was quite surprised as Paul Zavaleta (git / vox) contacted me and sent “In Ancients Beliefs” to me. DETERIOROT is back again and the three original members Paul, Jon and Will still know how to play brutal and unholy Death Metal. “In Ancient Beliefs” contains the songs from the demo tape and the two tracks from the EP plus some brand new compositions (this US version even has the original demo material as a bonus as well – Frank). “In Ancient Beliefs” is a masterpiece of finest US Death Metal in the vein of old INCANTATION and GOREAPHOBIA stuff. If you’re into those bands you surely will dig DETERIOROT. Enjoy those masters of unholy Death Metal.