Necrovation is for those who are looking to recapture (or perhaps see firsthand) a vision of the culture and legacy of the Swedish death metal scene of the late 80s and early 90s. Although they are just one of many newer names that have popped up within the past decade, however, they do manage to stand out a bit from the crowd, and not just for being one of the first to successfully release a full-length, that being Breed Deadness Blood. This is perhaps because they draw not only on the bands who actually played the music that they are more or less trying to emulate, but they also take inspiration from the bands that got their predecessors to pick up their guitars in the first place, which in a sense gives Necrovation’s sound a more genuine quality than most others. What you’ll hear is not only Merciless, Nihilist, Entombed, Carnage, Grave, and Unleashed, but also traces of Autopsy, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Celtic Frost, and Obituary, such as in the closing track, “Divinity Obscure.”
All of the typical aesthetic characteristics of the early Swedish death metal scene are present here; whether one objects to such imitation is another matter which will not be an issue here, as what is foremost at the moment is the strength of the material itself and the authenticity with which it is played. This seems to be an underlying current in some of the lyrics as well, paying homage to their predecessors not merely via echoing their lyrical content, but also imbuing beneath that content a second reading which is in veneration of the past. In “Dark Reverie,” for example, this seems most clear. The song title itself hints at the possibility. The band associates their brand of death metal heavily with darkness and death, unsurprisingly, so to revere the darkness or to do so in a dark manner suggests the possibility that this song could be aware of the undercurrent which speaks of the importance of the early Swedish death metal scene, while at the same time expressing disdain for the pretenders to the throne who poison the essence of their craft, twisting it into something that it was never meant to be. It is unnecessary to examine in depth the lyrics to discover the mere possibility of a double meaning to the lyrics (whether or not they are indeed there intentionally); however, one particular line resonates, and that is “rules of death apply in eclipse of life.” Not only is this line delivered with particular earnestness, but it lends itself quite easily to the aforementioned analysis. It suggests that although the Swedish scene as it was once understood is no longer present, the principles by which it was governed are still essential to the form of music that is its “twisted relic of years,” and which must be adhered to should any attempt to revive that musical legacy, which just so happens to be what the band is doing.
It is unlikely that any would contest that Necrovation does not adhere faithfully to their predecessors’ vision. One may protest that they adhere to it too loyally and say nothing of their own, but that is another matter. That Breed Deadness Blood is firmly grounded in that scene cannot be denied, whether it is through the bile with which the vocals are delivered, or the subtly punk influenced drum arrangements which especially characterized the earliest Swedish death metal bands like Nihilist, or the crushing rhythmic breakdowns which came to be an element that epitomizes the “Swedish death metal sound.” The buzzsaw-like guitar tone and low end of the bass guitar leave the listener with little breathing room and a pounding heart from the sheer power of the sound produced on this album, which was actually a bit old by the time this album finally saw the light of day (as it was recorded in August of ’06 and finally unleashed a year and a half later in February ’08). The production is somehow crisp, with everything being perfectly audible, which especially allows the harmonies and solos to shine through, yet remaining dirty and raw. If production was among the issues which delayed the release of this album, then it was certainly worth the wait, because the production really helps to bring these songs to life.
It is unnecessary to dwell precisely on the sounds of the music, given its largely derivative nature; it should suffice enough to say merely that if anyone both wants to and is willing to relive that early 90s death metal atmosphere and perhaps catch on to its predecessor (it would be unfair to call it a reincarnation), then exploring what Necrovation is doing today would be a good idea. This is a pure act of indulgence—the equivalent of one with a sweet tooth falling into a decadent ecstasy of eating some fine chocolate. For those who live this music, this is a fine chocolate which fulfills everything that one would expect it to fulfill, containing all of the desired characteristics of its given form. From the sinister and blasphemous artwork, to the buzzsaw guitar, to the dark and twisted lyrics, Breed Deadness Blood offers the death metal disciple the full package, if one chooses to partake.
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