When it comes to the old school Swedish death metal sound, it’s one that still captivates many in extreme music. For better or worse at times. For every solid and exciting OSDM act, there’s a dozen that don’t quite hit the mark. In that regard, Lik has always felt like the genuine article when it comes to buzzing Swedish glory. Perhaps it has something to do with their locale of Stockholm, but more likely it’s in the way they merge volatile riffing with sweeping melodies. Something Necro continues to tout with vengeful glee.
Lik’s buzzing guitars ooze with the HM-2 grime and it propels them at their most chaotic speeds. “Shred to Pieces” is practically exploding with energy as the riffs reverberate out of the speakers in thrashing mad tempos. But then the lead guitar tosses in a gorgeous melody to lose yourself in, heightening the feelings. Where their last album, 2020’s Misanthropic Breed, saw them at their best when they dished out full-speed carnage, Necro feels just as strong when they slow it down to the mid-tempo and let the melodies fly. “Morgue Rat” unloads some heavily dirty grooves for the band to revel in in the most infectious way possible. “They” stomps with driving grooves and inspired playful melodies that feel as eerie as they are intriguing. Closer “Rotten Inferno” brings an otherworldly doominess to it that suits it well as a finale that will stick with you, with haunting melodies that will get you headbanging one more time before the end. But it’s the resounding chorus of “In Ruins” that will likely stick with you the longest, with some of the juiciest hooks of the entire album in its chorus.
Still though, there is something to be said for when they really just hit the gas and blast away. Opener “Deceased” sets the tone for the album with merciless tempos that carry a biting tone while merging it with just enough melody to allow it to stand out as a track. “Worms Inside” opens at full salvo, but that’s only half the battle. Lik’s knack to maintain the adrenaline rush while providing hooks is what makes them stand apart from the OSDM crowd. “The Stockholm Massacre” sets a blistering tempo, but a tantalizing solo amid the blastbeats and groovy melodies make it a standout cut.
Continuing to showcase some of the strongest arguments for why the HM-2 Swedish death metal sound will never die, Lik have returned with their finest album to date. It’s utterly abrasive, yet it never blurs together due to the way they can weave in melodies in just the right proportions. Necro is an absolute winner for anyone seeking death metal done right.