What can I say? Despite of a really positive feedback and benevolently reviews on their second demo System Disease in 2003 Swiss death metal squad CENSORED did not push the accelerator any bit faster. No, these guys take it very easy. So it took another three years till the Zurich-based gents strikes back with In-Existence, with full force and in full-length time.
Of course, on In-Existence is not even a tiniest bit of the music soft, low or quiet ;) Stylistically CENSORED remain true to themselves and come up once again with brutal death metal, combined with a proper dash of hardcore and thrash metal leanings. Riffing is brute and varied, as we know it from earlier releases, and leaves enough room for all kind of headbanging culture. Blast parts get still used well-dosed, only Microsleep and Threatened With Extinction get completely thrashed down and should be the fastest tracks. Since the basic speed is already up-tempo one should not expect any contemplative moment. CENSORED just know how to groove as fucking hell when they slow down the pace here and there (as in Codification Interrupted) and then singer Manuel growls as if there is no tomorrow. Just great! Hehehehe…
Regarding the death metal aspect in the music it can easily compared with the well-known Morrisound studios, but due to the significant hardcore note the music gets a more brutal and more European approach. While doing so CENSORED already created their own distinct sound and do not need to scare too obvious comparisons. Though, I have to confess, that there is a clear Morbid Angel drift to hear out in Stop For Death *g*.
However, what stroke me again is the fact, that this trio made it again with only one guitar and created such powerful and forcing sound. What I read, you get the same sound live too. Hell that is impressing!
As on the predecessor In-Existence offers a bonus track or better said: a hidden track, which follows 10 minutes later after closer Faint has finished. It starts as a groovy doom track but follows back to the CENSORED trademarks. Nice, but not that spectacular as the piano instrumental on System Disease.
CENSORED again delivered high-class death metal I only can recommend to every fan. Check it out!