Rotpit – Let There Be Rot (War Anthem Records)
Monday, 10th April 2023
An international death metal trio with ties to acts like Massacre, Wombbath, and Revel in Flesh, Rotpit started during 2020 as these musicians became heavily inspired to develop material in the early 90’s tradition of the Finnish and British scenes, along with other obscure underground treasures from that time period. Successfully releasing Into the Rotpit as their debut demo in 2021, they would sign with War Anthem Records who now issue the first album, Let There Be Rot. Ardent followers of the tape trading circuit in those developmental years of death will probably enjoy most the raw, in your face approach as well as the extended punk/crust influences that give these nine tracks a personal, gritty touch.
Only one song from the demo makes its mark on the record (the former title track), so we can expect a certain level of confidence as the darkness, the despair, the infusion of churning, low-tuned rhythms intertwine against subterranean growls while the bass/drums punishes in that groove meets energetic concussion protocol manner. The double shot “Slimebreeder”/ “Night of the Ultimate Rot” opening provides all angles of the Rotpit playbook – sludgy, effects-enhanced vocals from Ralf Hauber on the former, the steady rhythms plus supplementary circular lead breaks beyond driving bass from Jonny Pettersson, and the versatile slower pounding to punk/semi-blasting abilities bursting out of drummer Henrik Posingis. The sensible, tasteful way the three-piece pay respect to those early heroes like Benediction, Paradise Lost, Abhorrence, and Demigod keeps listeners on their proverbial toes – especially in longer songs such as the five-minute plus title track and sledgehammer, mid-tempo closer “The Serenade of Rot”, the latter featuring some cool d-beat transitions as well as a frantic lead break that is almost Slayer-esque for intensive atmosphere. Even the smaller details from the production to the artwork truly embrace that 1990-1992 era when this scene started bubbling across the continents.
Rotpit won’t garner large acclaim in the current death ranks – but that’s not their intent. Let There Be Rot is a testament to a bygone era that won’t be forgotten, especially to those who grew up with these bands and still enjoy playing back those cassette tapes of third generation demos dubbed numerous times to look for that next underground sensation.
