Leper Colony | Those Of The Morbid | Testimony Records

 

Leper Colony is an international death metal collaboration founded by two long-standing figures of the genre: Marc Grewe, the German vocalist known for his crucial role in Morgoth, Insidious Disease, and Asinhell; and prolific Swedish guitarist and bassist Rogga Johansson, whose decades of work with bands like Paganizer, Ribspreader, and Revolting have made him one of the most productive songwriters in Scandinavian death metal. The band was originally formed in 2020, driven by mutual respect and shared dedication to the raw, aggressive, and riff-heavy foundations of early death metal. Their self-titled debut in 2023 was recorded with Jon Skäre (from Consumption) on drums and Kjetil Lyngahug (also of Paganizer) on lead guitar.

By 2025, Leper Colony underwent a lineup shift, welcoming Håkan Stuvemark from Wombbath as the new lead guitarist and Jon Rudin from Monstrous and Dead Sun on drums. This second album, “Those Of The Morbid,” continues the band’s approach of unrelenting classic death metal, performed by seasoned veterans without concern for trends or modern stylization.

 “Those Of The Morbid” is a tightly compressed slab of old-school death metal that wears its blood-soaked influences on its skin. The album runs just over 35 minutes, relying on fast, grooving riffs and direct songwriting that emphasizes punch over excess. The material sticks close to traditional death metal structures—compact track lengths, chugging verses, short but searing solos, and snarling vocals that remain intelligible enough to preserve a visceral storytelling quality.

Marc Grewe’s vocals remain a defining feature. His barked delivery doesn’t rely on technical acrobatics or layers of effects but delivers every line with grit and force. Rogga Johansson’s rhythm guitars churn with the no-frills purpose of early ’90s Swedish and American death metal, while Håkan Stuvemark's lead work is used sparingly to accent the aggression rather than distract from it.

Drums, now handled by Jon Rudin, are performed with precision and weight. The production serves the music appropriately—dry enough to maintain aggression, but with just enough clarity to let the details surface. It does not aim for excess atmosphere or studio sheen. Each track pushes forward with purpose, offering variations in tempo and riffing style while maintaining the same core personality throughout.

“Those Of The Morbid” is an album for listeners who are well-versed in the genre and still crave the sound of death metal made without pretense. It isn’t complicated, and it doesn’t try to be. Instead, it delivers a fully formed batch of songs written by experienced musicians who know how to keep things sharp, concise, and impactful without sacrificing identity.

Score: 7.7