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When I first heard Slowly We Rot way back in 1989, I never thought I'd still be hearing new music by the same band 30-plus years later. This is their 11th album in a highly uneven discography, and while there are some things about it that could be better, overall I think it's a strong entry in their catalog. After the rather dull Inked in Blood and the just passable self-titled album in 2017, the songwriting on here is much improved. This still does not match the slow, grinding sound of the old days, with a much more Thrash-influenced approach that reminds me of classic Slayer in places. John Tardy's vocals are more high-pitched and clear, without the guttural bellows I miss, but they work. The production is decent, though it lacks a bit in the heaviness department. I want the guitars here to really bite in, but they sound a bit muted. I suppose I am damning this with faint praise, but while I enjoy this while it is on, and it's a definite improvement over their recent output, it still stands in the shadow of what this band used to be.