Review by Tomek on March 23, 2013.

How many times a Death Metal band starts out by putting an album out there that can compete with the best? Not many! Fetus Stench did just that with their first album and nothing will be the same again, at least for me. “Stillbirth” is relentless, extreme, and intense and I loved it from the first note.

Powerful, meaty guitar sound combined with moshpit-friendly riffing (Cannibal Corpse) carries a Death/Thrash vibe with some groove and occasional lead, double base, blast and rumble of the drums (Blood Red Throne/Aeon drummer Emil) is simply exceptional and it’s a treat in itself, clanging of the bass and gut wrenching vocals (Morbid Angel/Hate Eternal) complete the attack and level anything that is still standing.

“Stillbirth” is one of those albums that don’t need to be taken apart. Everything is clear, crisp and tight. Guitars, bass, drums and vocals all are one impossible to stop entity that is as solid as a slab of steel. One that is made to crush, one that cannot be taken apart and cannot be messed with. It is brutal, technical, punishing and unstoppable. Excellent background to an execution or soundtrack to destroying something that’s beautiful. It is like a medieval battering ram made with care and passion, full of exhausting designs and majestic in its presence, yet made with one purpose and made to do only one thing: DESTROY!

Fetus Stench is conquering the throne, and as far as I am concerned - only few can stand in their way. “Stillbirth” is one of the most complete Death Metal albums I’ve heard in a while, and if they can keep what they’re doing or maybe raise it a notch, next time I see them leading the pack and many others will have to try to keep up. It is Death Metal at its finest and I’m not just saying that.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10

Review by JD on March 30, 2009.

Bleak, blunt and yet still so damned heavy. You need to know who the hell I was just listening to... I was listening to the band that calls themselves Sidus Tenebrarum.. To put in a quick sentence, this is Italy's answer to the black metal gods Venom! This may be only a four track EP that was handed to me, but WHAT AN EP!!

This is more than just amazing yet all so heavy music packed on to this silver disk of death, this has some of the best Black Metal is held on it and it is coming straight out of the Catholic Pope's backyard... if that ain't blasphemous enough, I dunno what is.. Well, well.. This heretical group of Italian headbangers have certainly gotten my full attention in a big way.

I don't know if this band are still going or not (It seems so), but even that does not matter to me in any case. The music which has assaulted the very fabric of my mind, that is what really matters here. It is one of the best out there. One listen to any track, but especially 'Book Of Sorrow', and I really do thing that you will agree right off.

The country that looks like a huge boot really does kick some pretty good ass musically, and the fact that there are so many really good metal bands pushing out of the Italian boundaries right now... the world of metal has to now take a serious look at what is coming forth. Sidus Tenebrarum is a good benchmark for the other to follow, and a great thing for metal in general.

My advice is for anyone to take a really good listen to this impressive EP... and see what Italy has unleashed on us all... and that name is Sidus Tenebrarum.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 8.5
Production: 8.5
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8.3 out of 10