From Womb to Tomb..
CLERIC Review + Stream

Okay, so over the past few years there has been some really fucking good death metal coming out of the US and I gotta say it’s pretty goddamn cool to say the least and CLERIC (feat. members of Kill The Client, Tyrannosorceress and Baring Teeth) is no exception to this. I’m an absolute sucker for some dirty, mean, fist pumping, heavy-as-shit sounding Old School Swedish Death Metal reminiscent stuff. Seriously, for me personally this is some of the best modern Death Metal from the US to grace my ears alongside the likes of ACEPHALIX, MORTUOUS, NECROT, VASTUM, DISMA, FUNEBRARUM and many more. Now.. these three tracks they have up on their bandcamp page seem to be coming out on their forthcoming album entitled “Gratum Inferno” so don’t think this is all you’ll be getting. You’ll just have to wait a while until the whole thing comes out (release date uncertain it seems).

With the first of the three tracks comes “From Womb to Tomb” right from the start you’re hit in the face with some pummeling  d-beat goodness and that all too familiar buzzsaw guitar tone that’s instantly associated with Swedish Death Metal. Honestly it sounds like something that came out of the depths of Sweden via the early 90s but with a modern production behind it but doesn’t take away from the material at all (for me as lame as it may sound to some production can really make or break a release). It’s actually done quite well here in my opinion. Then next comes the track “Through the Starless Abyss”.  This track is a little more on the headbanger-riff, mid paced side and filled with blast beats. The last track entitled “Gratum Inferno” goes back to having the thundering d-beats and blast beats but also has an utterly crushing section littered with ominous sounding feedback squealing over the music to create a truly great atmosphere.  Another thing about these 3 tracks that I absolutely love are the vocals.. holy goddamn shit.. they are spot on.. I love the layered stuff throughout the tracks as well.

CLERIC is a band that I seriously have some of the highest hopes for and I can’t wait to hear the rest of the material that’s going to be on the album “Gratum Inferno” and whatever else they put out in the future. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend checking this out if you’re a fan of ENTOMBED, GRAVE, DISMEMBER, INTERMENT, ACEPHALIX, MORTUOUS, NECROT, DISMA, FUNEBRARUM or if you just love absolutely crushing death metal. Let your ears be the ultimate judge like I always say.

http://clericdeath.bandcamp.com/