Degraved | Spectral Realm Of Ruin | Dark Descent Records/Me Saco Un Ojo Records

Release Date: 14 November 2025

Format: LP/CD/Tape

Genre: Death Metal

Country: United States/Mexico

Degraved formed between Seattle and Mexico City, a strange geographical pairing that gives their music a damp, feral edge. They sharpened their name through early demos that caught underground attention, thanks to their devotion to classic death metal riff architecture and a taste for grim atmospheres. The quartet now steps into the spotlight with their debut full length through Dark Descent Records and Me Saco Un Ojo Records, bringing their raw sound from small rehearsal rooms straight into wider view.

“Spectral Realm Of Ruin” lands with the kind of confidence you expect from musicians who already know exactly where they want their music to go. Degraved leans fully into the death metal lineage they grew up on, pulling from the harsh teachings of Morbid Angel, Immolation, Slugathor and Cianide, along with a shadowy streak reminiscent of Demoncy or Blaspherian. The riffs stay heavy and savage, the drumming charges forward in wild bursts and the vocals drip with venom. Everything sits in a raw production style the band built themselves, a choice that suits their approach nicely since it keeps the material direct and ugly in the right way.

Across the album the band shift between violence and gloom, moving from frantic passages to slower, oppressive sections that sink the listener deeper into their world. Synth touches appear here and there, not to soften the impact but to add a cold, eerie layer behind the guitars. Degraved knows how to hit hard and then pull back just enough to let the atmosphere grow thicker, and that balance makes the album an engaging listen from start to finish. Even during the most chaotic moments you can hear the band’s discipline at work, especially in the way the guitar lines weave around each other and the drums push them forward.

“Spectral Realm Of Ruin” works smoothly as a debut since it captures exactly what Degraved is about. The tone stays barbaric, the pacing moves with intention and the songwriting points toward greater things without losing its underground ugliness. It lands in a comfortable middle ground where the band’s influences are clear but not copycat, and their personality cuts through strongly. Nothing is stitched together for effect, everything sounds like it grew naturally from the band’s core idea of death metal as something harsh, grimy and unforgiving.

Score: 7.5

https://degraved.bandcamp.com/album/spectral-realm-of-ruin

https://www.instagram.com/degraved__death/