I have said it many times before and I will continue to do so: the old school will never truly die. No matter what anyone may claim in their self-imposed despair or falsely believe by simply looking at a small portion of any given scene, so long as there are musicians out there with a high reverence for what has come before them, the old school of metal is a self-perpetuating source of excellence whose waters will never run dry. Death metal, in particular, is good for such a constant flow with the style long been a haven for those looking for old grime and riffs that are nigh on undeniable in virtually every way with new bands still constantly coming around that manage to accomplish those old flavors in great detail. In no small way, Claustrum’s debut furthers that very glory.

A work like this eponymous creation is of the sort that we’ve all seen many times over throughout the scene over the years with there being no end to such madness any time soon, yet the very potency and tenacity of these creations are what keep them popping up while we keep returning as if the music itself was homemade ice cream. With their debut, Claustrum channeled that certifiable tastiness in no small form with this album a brief outing compared to much of what we’ve seen before. Yet, it is at every turn here that Claustrum manages to rise above where others may be intimidated at the prospect before them. A straightforward creation with its sole purpose in this world seems to be naught but to perpetuate the very vein of old-school death metal that’s being channeled at every turn here, it would be an understatement in every form to say how well Claustrum tackled the challenge before them as they crafted this meaty piece. Nothing is left on the table with this being the kind of death metal that people immediately gravitate towards with the riffs, the horror imagery, the power, and the very tenacity of everything that’s on display here precisely what many of us imagine whenever we fathom what that old school of death metal is capable of with Claustrum keeping it alive in indisputable quality!

Everything about this record is essential to really drive home the themes and vibes that Claustrum sought to elicit as they crafted its very first piece of material with all that was delivered more than meeting the requirements for something that dares to tap into that classic vein with the end result actually worthy of the legacy that is seeks to continue. With records like this whose power cannot be denied and bands like Claustrum who have an undeniable drive to keep that old-school thriving with the prospect of demise so minuscule that there’s no reason to bother even worrying about it.

“Claustrum” releases on June 9th via Avantgarde Music!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Claustrum” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Claustrum on Facebook here.