HUMAN HARVEST is a Swedish duo composed of Jon Rudin (JUST BEFORE DAWN, DEAD SUN) and Jonny Pettersson (MASSACRE, ROTPIT). Lately, these two guys have been involved in countless bands, so the comparison to their countrymate Rogga Johansson is unavoidable. But just like Rogga, Rudin and Petersson deliver the goods. “Death Storms” is their second album, released by Mexican label Iron, Blood And Death Corporation. And it is exactly what one would expect: a totally appalling style of Death Metal. Sure, there are some Black Metal and Grindcore influences, but these are just used to spice up their songs. Guitar wise, there is a lot happening with tremolo riffs, palm muted parts and open chords blended with eerie melodies and harmonies. Jonny even throws in some dissonant parts that stand out really nice. The bass never strays too far away from the guitar riffs, but the performance is spot on, contributing to the huge rhythm section. Jon’s drumwork is as surgical as it is amazing. Double kicks aplenty, blast beats, D-Beats and slow parts make up an interesting yet intense display. Finally, Jonny growls, screams and shrieks his way through the album with ease. Dare I say this is one of his best performances. The production is heavy. And I mean, really heavy. The thick guitar tone, the huge bottom ended bass guitar and the gargantuan drums build a huge wall of sound topped by excellent vocals. Every instrument has its place in the mix, which is a tricky thing due to the overwhelming nature and extreme display of harshness present in HUMAN HARVEST’s music. The only technical aspect I didn’t like is the mastering. It is way too loud and I think it takes away from the music. Just to make things clear: I am an old fart who will always favor dynamics. I just needed this little space for my rant. Moving on. Sincerely, I was expecting another retro NWOSDM oriented album. But luckily, HUMAN HARVEST has managed to update that sound and made it their own. Especially in the composing department. That alone which sets them apart from the many copycats out there. The band is building an identity and their songs are cohesive with one another. Basically, “Death Storms” is one hell of a Death Metal album. Show some well-deserved support to the band at www.facebook.com/humanharvest666 and get their album from their label www.facebook.com/ibdc666