Review by Alex Grindor on May 25, 2021.

Soul Grinder, a death metal band from Germany, are set to release their latest EP next month. Is it worth it? Yes it is!

What Soul Grinder delivers is pure, unadulterated death metal with plenty of atmosphere and in the vein of old school works. With tight and precise musicianship, and excellent vocalists backing them, it is all a delightful experience to listen to. The EP wastes no second in introduction, beginning immediately with the frantic delivery of all instruments before having an abrupt change in tempo, becoming even faster and introducing the vocals. From here on, the Lifeless Obsession has many twists and turns in its speed, but the band's playing is perfectly executed. Drums and bass are pummeling and precise, guitars are heavy as fuck and slash with great riffs and some acoustic passages. The vocals roll out with great low growls and piercing screams which are shared by guitar and bass players and their delivery is outstanding. Production wise there is not much I can complain about, everything is perfectly audible and in its proper place.

With great atmospherics thrown here and there, varied delivery in the music and featuring a guest appearance from Nachtgarm (of fellow band Negator), this is a well executed mini-record that I recommend entirely. It may not be innovative in any particular way, but it doesn't have to be.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

Review by Jason on April 3, 2012.

"Spyhorelandet" is the sophomore full length release from the Norwegian band Formloff who has been lingering amongst the metal scene for around a decade now. As the album’s press release states, this record is a grim portrait of that which we as humans create. “When you peel back the skin, no matter how beautiful, what is left is the ugly personal histories each of us carries.” Their statement here rings true, and is felt throughout "Spyhorelandet" in its entirety.

Every track within is dripping with atmosphere and pain, acting as a reflection to our darkest moments in life. Slightly twisted Black Metal landscapes engulf the listener in all they have done. Progressive themes pulse under the drone, coming in to play in rather organic, natural manners which for the most part succeed in amplifying the potency of this albums theme. Keyboards, brass instruments and other odds and ends fit their way perfectly into select portions of songs never coming off as forced.

Musically, execution is superb, though far from demanding. Composition sits at the forefront of this entity, as it should. Layering is thought out and complements both harsh and laid back portions of songs adding both feeling and progressive vibes. Rarely do tracks wallow on paths for too long, or change too rapidly. It is not done without an occasional stir though, as the band seems to struggle with a few of the more aggressively punctuated segments they implement.

At the end of the day, when dealing with a piece such as "Spyhorelandet" one can largely judge its success by its ability to keep the listener consistently immersed. While on occasion repetitive vocal arrangements can pull the listener out of their dive into this release, as a whole it succeeds quite splendidly at keeping you submerged in every passage offered. Implementation of fresh ideas woven into the frequently traveled atmospherically charged Black Metal terrain certainly aids the release, but is never used as a crutch. In conclusion, Formloff will properly engage fans of both Black Metal and those longing for something slightly different with this LP.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 7
Originality: 8
Overall: 8.5

Rating: 8 out of 10