Asphyx are back! Following an 8 year hiatus, these Dutch death metal legends have reformed with Martin Van Drunen on vocals for the first time since 1992′s Last One On Earth, Wannes Gubbels on bass, Bob Bagchus on drums and Paul Baayens of Cremation on guitars. Asphyx‘s first recording in 8 years is a 2-track 7” EP entitled Death The Brutal Way.

The title track opens up this album, the first thing that stands out is the production on this release is pretty rough, regardless, the material fucking shreds! "Death The Brutal Way" is 3:38 of high paced thrashing death metal in vein of the material on The Rack, the track is fast, furious and Martin Van Drunen’s vocals are more vicious than ever! This is one of those songs you start headbanging to the second it starts and don’t stop until well after the song is over. Classic Asphyx!

The second traffic is an excellent cover of Celtic Frost‘s "Os Abysmi Vel Daath" from 2006′s Monotheist. The track definitely put to rest my fears that the band may stray away from the death/doom roots, as this is one crushing slab of dark death metal! I’ve yet to hear the original, but I think I’m going to have to track it down, because Asphyx‘s version is fucking awesome!

I quietly hoped for years that the band would reform, and when they did I was concerned they may have lost a step, but those fears are unfounded. If you’re an Asphyx fan, or any fan of quality old school death metal, it’s safe to say you’re going to like this, as long as you can ignore the less than stellar production. I can’t wait for their next full length!

Review byTeufel