Death Metal
Non Serviam Records
Release Date – April 7th 2023
Line Up:
Sebastian Svedland – Vocals/Guitar
Fredrik Jordanius – Guitar
Andreas Strandh – Bass
Stefan Jansson – Drums
Tracklist:
1 – By Knife
2 – WWD
3 – The Passenger
4 – Cemetery Scream
5 – Infernum
6 – The Neverborn
7 – The Reaping
8 – Narcissistic Abuse
9 – Ten Shots
10 – Slow Decay
Omnicidal was formed out of the remnants of a couple of Swedish bands that decided to split. Seeing this as a perfect opportunity to get something going singer/guitarist Svedland and guitar slinger Jordanius enlisted the rhythm section of Strandh and Jansson with the brief of mixing the old Swedish death metal sound with the more melodic Gothenburg influence.
Opener ‘By Knife’ gets straight to the point with a rapid banger to get this warmed up before ‘WWD’ kicks it up a gear on a razor-sharp riff, pounding rhythm, and Svedland’s throat-shredding vocals. ‘The Passenger’ brings it down on a huge stomp that gets your head banging before ‘Cemetery Scream’ pulverizes with another bout of rabid death metal driven along by Jansson’s battery of rhythms and some crushing guitar lines. ‘Infernum’ is another pacy headbanger that highlights the fretboard skills of both Svedland and Jordanius then ‘The Neverborn’ continues in the same vein, chugging along like a runaway train. ‘The Reaping’ gets nasty and vicious before ‘Narcissistic Abuse’ brings an assault to your senses with three and half minutes of brutal apocalyptic metal. There’s nothing subtle about any of this so hold on to your hats because it’s a bumpy ride that gets even bumpier on ‘Ten Shots’. The final track ‘Slow Decay’ starts with some big open doomy chords which are joined by a double kick rhythm that settles into a huge, scary, grinding beast.
I think Omnicidal has got the balance right. Loads of old-school Swedish death metal riffage and growly vocals with the melodic Gothenburg edge with big nasty sounds created courtesy of Mikael Andersson. I see a bright future for Omnicidal – a great debut. Here’s to the next one.
Score: 9/10
Reviewed by: Smudge