Genre: Death metal
Origin: Sweden
Released: 2006
Website: Degrade
Label: Permeated Records
Uploaded: 17.08.09

I was surprised, to say the least, when I received this album. Considering the release is three years old I didn’t think they were still sending out promos, but I’m not one to complain. What sucks, though, is the fact that this is Degrade’s latest release; still! But hopefully we can take their word for it when they say they’re still alive and writing new material, ‘cause considering the quality of the material they’ve produced so far it’d be a damn shame to see the band call it quits. Lost torso found is from 2006, so it’s a few years old now as I’ve already stated, but it’s certainly still worth checking out.
The first few times I listened to this I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I can’t really say why, but it just didn’t grab my attention the way its predecessor Hanged and disemboweled did. It was all still there; the groove, brutality and gore, but I just wasn’t hooked. I really can’t explain what the hell was going on, ‘cause now I can’t get enough of it. What Degrade delivers is somewhat un-Swedish death metal as it goes straight across the ocean and crawls its way towards the slums of North America. Band’s such as Putrid Pile and Devourment (albeit with less technicality) come to mind, but the more I listen to it the more I realize there’s something missing with that description. And then it hits me; there’s tons of European styled brutal death metal as well. Suddenly Avulsed and Disavowed appears as comparisons, or why not even add the first Infernal Revulsion album to that.
Tons of groove is the key, along with slamming breaks and blistering blasts. What is really cool with Degrade is that they’ve mastered the technique of blasting like crazy while still retaining the groove via chugging riffage. And speaking of riffs they deliver quite a few memorable pieces; such as the re-vamped Degraded into worms (a re-recording of a demo song), which has killer headbanger friendly slamming groove. And it’s freakishly heavy with a great production, really smearing it on thick. There’s quite a lot of variation as they constantly change pace; it comes to a halt and a slam section is inserted before the blasting commences again. But one thing that is present throughout it all (except for the groove, of course) is the indecipherable gurgle growls, sounding somewhat like a mixture of Iniquity and Stabwound, and you know what that means.
Despite my initial antipathy and hesitation I’m sold. The great artwork by Jon Zig perfectly matches the gory title and lyrics, the thick sound complements the sick music perfectly. And how can I not love a band that includes me in the thanks-list? Let’s just hope they’ll be able to create an even deadlier album the next time around, they’ve had some time now to hone their sound.

Tracklist:
01. Torso extraction
02. Prenatal butchery
03. Blood rampage
04. Lost torso found
05. Bag of disposed organs
06. Drastical dismemberment
07. B.T.K.
08. United in brutality
09. Degraded into worms MK2