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Regardless of what you think of Bill Nocera and Razorback Records, you gotta give them this much: when it comes to what talent to release, they are consistent with their tastes. Granted, quite a few of the releases from the past couple of years have been a bit incestuous (Hooded Menace, Vacant Coffin, Claws, Acid Witch, Horrific, etc.), but for the most part you can buy blind from Razorback and are almost guaranteed to have at least some idea with what to expect come  each new release.

Like past recent Razorback acts, Festered returns a Razorback alumnus to the fold- Elektrokutioner of Decrepitaph and upcoming act Tombstones. However, Elektrokutioner is also joined by Goat from American long-distance dark death metal blasphemers Father Befouled, an act whose recent Incantation-loving album, EP, and split with Helcaraxë have been turning some heads amongst those in the underground.

The sound that Festered goes for is somewhere between these 2 madmen’s main projects: the music is a decidedly primitive mix of old Death, Autopsy, Massacre, a little bit of Nunslaughter, Master, newer acts like Gravehill, and I’d even argue some of Possessed’s less focused moments. Goat’s vocals are gloomly and garbled, resonating a vocal approach that goes more for the darker sound of Incantation or Convulse. The guitars are basic but thrashy, emulating that early 1985-89 primitive riffing mixed with the occasionally well-placed crushing slow part that later death/doom acts would expand upon and master. And Elektrokutioner’s drumming is straight-and-to-the-point: there are no frilly tricks or fancy overly technical wankery. The drum performance is solid and varied ranging from simple rhythm to pummeling speed, but ultimately a wham-bam-thank-you-mam matter designed to keep focus on that primordial death metal heritage.

Granted, everything on Flesh Perversion you’ve seen before. But that’s not what Festered (or the rest of Razorback for that matter) is about. This entire record and band are a celebration of one very specific, isolated tradition of metal, and they replicate it impeccably. Festered are here to teach your little brother what Scream Bloody Gore was about, and they plan to teach him well; let’s leave innovation to the newer bands like Ulcerate.

Review byNecro-tron