• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I've been following Cauldron of Hate since I first heard their EP Emperor years ago, watching them refine and improve upon their Nile-inspired Death Metal in that time. Their sophomore album, Scourge, sees them stepping up their game a good bit to not so much bow before the throne of Nile so much as try to take it for themselves.

That's not to say they're a simple clone act, for they ditch the Egyptian iconography and instrumentals and focus solely on severe, brutal technicality that's as heavy and precise as the stones used to build the pyramids of tyrannical pharaohs, and it hits you in the head with all the force that would imply. I have to say, these Finns are at their best when they work in a slower, more menacing mid-paced crawl that's not too far off from what Morbid Angel or, again, Nile pulled on occasion, as on the ominous "Ascending Vengeance". But really, every song has plenty of sharp musicianship and meaty aggression to sink your teeth into.

I'm honestly impressed with how this band has just been getting better over time, and with this album, I'd say they've earned themselves a place among the elite of Finnish Death Metal. Hell, they might actually outdo Nile on their next one with the way things are going. For now, anyone who's missed out on this band can start with Scourge and witness the Death Metal assault for themselves, and longtime fans will watch an underrated act get one step closer to matching their legendary idols.