Deathgoat | Dragged Into Realms Below | Xtreem Music

 

 Deathgoat formed in Finland and first emerged from the depths of northern obscurity with their debut, "Regurgitated Into Existence", establishing themselves among the new breed of European death metal bands dedicated to a visceral, riff-heavy sound. Eschewing modern sheen for a decay-ridden atmosphere, Deathgoat embraces a style rooted in late ‘80s and early ‘90s Scandinavian extremity. Their music is built around dense riff structures, cavernous vocals, and a rhythmic foundation that leans into chaos without abandoning structure. The band’s lineup—Putrid Worm (vocals), Vicar Miggoat and Nihilist (guitars), L.F. Molestor (bass), and Chope666 (drums)—carries a moniker-driven menace that mirrors their thematic content: decomposition, damnation, and the reanimation of death metal’s corpse.

On “Dragged Into Realms Below,” Deathgoat descends deeper into the void they first unearthed in 2021. With nine tracks that pass like funeral dirges soaked in napalm, the album offers a cohesive and unrelenting slab of classic death metal that maintains momentum without relying on speed or dissonance as a crutch. The opening instrumental “Alkulima” is a brief but effective passage, establishing a dread-choked atmosphere before the sonic assault begins. From there, each song unfolds with intent: riff-driven constructions loaded with rhythmic variation and a certain necrotic groove that recalls the earliest Swedish masters without being derivative.

The production is thick and engulfing, placing emphasis on the guitar tone, which is charred, crusted, and suitably oppressive. Putrid Worm’s vocals are not layered for theatrical effect but remain dry and forceful, delivered in a single, smoldering cadence that remains consistent across the record’s length. The percussion of Chope666 is relentless yet controlled—built less around blastbeat excess and more on tribal, tom-heavy propulsion and staggered fills, matching the rotting aesthetic of the compositions.

“Pestilent Retribution” and “Congregation Of Disease” drive home the band’s preference for mid-paced punishment, while pieces like “Dying To Be Dead” introduce sharper, more frantic tempo shifts, all bound by an unrepentant dedication to riffs. The melodic leads scattered throughout—especially on tracks like “Compulsive Cannibalism”—do not aim to offer relief or grandeur; instead, they resemble tortured chants echoing from cryptic depths.

The closer, “Dragged Into Realms Below,” acts more as a descent than a finale. It burrows rather than explodes, ending the album not with resolution but collapse. The album feels like an excavation through layers of rot and stone, never seeking light but pressing further downward into darkness.

Deathgoat does not present “Dragged Into Realms Below” as anything other than what it is: a death metal album formed of bone, ash, and grave soil. It speaks in a language understood only by those drawn to the ancient pull of destruction and decay. There are no detours, no cleansed passages, no narrative arcs—just burial hymns composed in fire and bile.

Score: 8