Review by Greg on October 11, 2025.

Over the years, I think I've finally found the heaviest object in the known universe: my bed blankets. Or at least that's what my own body seems to think, given that every morning I feel like they weigh 600 pounds. Apparently trying to make a run for a close second place, though, is now Atrox Trauma, hailing straight from Hungary (and precisely from one of the most unpronounceable locations I've ever read), whose fresh sophomore album Where Death Hunts appeared on my radar some days ago.

First things first, let's be polite and move on to the introductions: Atrox Trauma play a deadly combination of thrashy death metal with melodic twists and strong hardcore influences, resulting in a merciless parade of fast moments and groovy segments, with a strong preference for the former. In any case, what easily jumps out at you in both situations is Gergely Győri's drumming, mixing freight train-like skanks and explosive blasts with an uncanny feel for groove, the latter aspect being something I don't commonly give accolades for. He's probably not gonna be the most impressive drummer you've ever heard in your whole life, but his performance is truly demolishing and, most of all, never tedious. A bit less eclectic might be Imre Török's vocals, an ultra-deep growl that is firmly on the modern death metal end of things. Coupled with the often melodic leadwork, not to mention the massive production job, I was tempted to draw an ambitious Allegaeon comparison (especially the awesome Riley McShane era), of course confined to their less intricate moments, while sometimes I'm more reminded of how I wanted Almost Dead to sound on their latest Destruction Is All We Know, which flirted (but no more than that, sadly) with more extreme sounds. Whichever path you choose, adrenaline and testosterone abound, if you were doubtful.

Indeed, Where Death Hunts makes things clear from its very opener, the friendly and welcoming 'We Hate Each Other', which places itself at a halfway point between an intro and a full-fledged track. It's also a compact work, narrowly exceeding half an hour, so that Atrox Trauma have the chance, as well as the duty, to keep thrashing and pummeling the listener without the need to take a break. A monstrous track like 'Freedom Is The Life' displays all these facets, with the transition to a grinding, skull-crushing mid-tempo riff in the pre-chorus handled masterfully – an easy back half highlight. Amid all the ubiquitous sudden accelerations, up until the triggered blast-beat maelstrom of the title-track, 'Emptiness' is a partial exception, offering a semblance of recurring melody to grasp onto and even a refrain that could be classified as 'catchy', an opportunity to hear that even these rugged, bearded, long-haired brute men can have feelings too. You'll either greet it as a welcome break from the norm, or despise it for its emotional, almost melodeath appeal. No in-between. Conversely, 'Demolish Them All' is probably the only uninspired episode at every pace it attempts, despite Győri's best efforts to shake it up.

There's the occasional random happening – just let your mind wander for a moment and you'll come across a 7-second acoustic interlude in 'Raise The Level', or a tribal (also trivial) drum break in 'I Am the Master (Burning Desire)' that sounds taken straight from 'Ratamahatta' and shares literally nothing with its surroundings. Those are also two more menacing bastards of tracks, where one can sense the hardcore influence the most in their confrontational approach, so it doesn't really matter, I guess. And that might be the most accurate descriptor for Where Death Hunts, in a way – I don't really care 'bout anything as long as it makes me want to sign up at my nearest gym just to try it during workout, which it does in spades.

In the meantime, 'Problem, Reaction, Solution' is no doubt worth trying as my new morning alarm.

Rating: 8 out of 10