heavy-metal-darkness: Last Retch | Abject Cruelty

Sunday, September 28, 2025

Last Retch | Abject Cruelty | Time To Kill Records

Release Date: 26 September 2025

Genre: Death Metal

Origin: Canada

Formats: CD/LP/MC/Digital

Last Retch is a death metal band from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Their sound blends the catchiness of Carcass, the pounding melodic weight of Bolt Thrower, and the savagery of Cannibal Corpse. They first appeared in 2021 with a raw demo that gained quick attention. In 2022, they released their first album “Sadism And Severed Heads” with artwork by Paolo Girardi, followed by the “Ergotism” EP in 2024. Both releases built their reputation as one of the rising Canadian names in death metal.

With "Abject Cruelty," Last Retch delivers a concentrated attack of old-school death metal across 27 minutes. The album opens with the title track, a mid-length storm that sets the entire atmosphere before the band plunges into shorter, violent strikes like "Beasley Meth Merchants" and "Dissecting The Leper." These songs hammer in direct blows with riffs that stick immediately.

The album thrives on pacing. Short and brutal cuts are balanced with longer songs such as "In The Polder They Reek," which builds its aggression step by step before spilling into chaotic blasts. Every track is distinct, avoiding monotony without stretching beyond what’s necessary. The rawness of the riffs is matched by a thick bass tone and relentless drumming, while the vocals add a hoarse, deep layer that drives the attack further.

Tracks like "Resinous Drip Of Decay" and "Oozing Pustules" underline the band’s fascination with decay and disease, giving the album a consistent thematic direction. Closer "Gatling Gun" fires off with mechanical aggression, leaving no room for doubt that Last Retch wanted this album to be short, violent, and repeatable.

The production is direct, keeping the instruments harsh and dirty but still strong enough to cut through. It doesn’t drag into over-polished territory, instead serving the songs with a raw edge that fits their style perfectly. "Abject Cruelty" is a death metal album that burns quickly and memorably. It’s a half-hour slab of decay and violence, built for those who want riffs, speed, and power without filler.

Score: 7.3