The release of Aposento has been a long time coming. The band formed in 1990 and this is their first full-length album. That’s 24 years in the making! Sure, there were a few demos/EPs along the way, but, phew! Another year and this full-length can rent a car all on it’s own (not to mention it’s already a regular in the bars)! It does bring about the question, was it all really worth it after so many years?
Impressively, the early ‘90s approach to death metal (of the American variety mostly) sounds as if the band actually took a trip through time to write their material and traveled to present day to record it. You have all of the power and menace of bands like Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, and Massacre and it doesn’t degrade itself by proving its authenticity by recording it like it was 1993. The older feel is there, make no qualms about it but there is an organically heavy approach to the production that keeps it from sounding dated. For the most part, the band bludgeons and smashes their way through all of these tracks with unbridled fury. Not afraid to toss a smattering of light technical flourishes, nor steer clear of some tasty grooves and occasional NYDM breakdowns (“Muerte Lenta”), there is a nice variety (for death metal at least) of punishment to partake it.
The complete recapturing of the early American death metal movement on Aposento keeps it moving quickly and with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. While it isn’t the type of album that everyone will place on his or her ‘end of year’ lists, it works well for what it is and will leave any death metal fan satisfied. Can’t ask for much more than that.