How fucking awesome is that!? Granted, but I did not even know the name FACEBREAKER until this release. On the one hand a reason can be found in the fact, that the debut album of the Swedish Bloodred Hell was released in 2004 by Rage of Achilles Records. Unfortunately in late 2004 and early 2005, Rage Of Achilles went out of business. One the other hand it could be the band name itself. In combination with Dead, Rotten And Hungry one could guess a B-Gurgle-Gore-band behind this. Forget it! FACEBREAKER does not break faces, the Swedish crunch faces. And they do this in best traditional old school Swedish Death Metal manner like Carnage, Grave or Entombed did it in early days. Deliciously sawing guitars, impulsive drumming free from blast beats, a thundering bass and the barbarous deep organ of Roberth “Robban” Karlsson (Edge Of Sanity) are guarantor of this musical steamroller. Whether the songs are played mid-tempo or in up-tempo style like Slowly Rotting or The Awakening, the sound is always heavy. The typical Swedish sound meets Obituary in the title track Dead, Rotten And Hungry. An explosive combination which makes to be close to tears of joy! And coming with it the whole album: killer riffs and solos… fantastic! Every song is filled with Death Metal history. That gives me the pure creeps! Tracks like Burner or Consumed I need to see performed live; this will be an awesome sea of rotating hair. FACEBREAKER attest imposingly that they are able to play fast with their last detonation Devoured By Decay. This up-tempo track gives you the death-blow finally. Well!… breath deeply … and then go and buy Bloodred Hell.
Whatever which track you listen to, Dead, Rotten And Hungry gives you the impression to be about 20 years back in time but still existing in the presence by the modern sound anyhow. Jonas Kjellgren’s Black Lounge Studios did a bang-up job. Or else: it’s a present for me who was allowed to join the first Death Metal wave. Thank you for this travel in time!