The reach that death metal has ascertained over the decades has been a magnificent thing to witness. While still very much so entrenched in what it means to be underground, the spread of death metal has been truly undeniable and like the most glorious of all plagues where nothing and nobody can ever hope to stop its unending offensives. Some veins of it, however, tend to remain in the same pockets of the world with some exceptions. When we think of good old Swedish death metal, we typically think of it from within Sweden for obvious reasons, and that tends to be where it is best. Every now and then, though, those outside the country manage to do the sound justice and put it in such a form that is magnificent to behold. With their debut EP, Kaivs has accomplished just that and set the foundation for a glorious path forward.

By all accounts, Swedish death metal has been turned into a real science much like many of the contemporary sounds within the vast selection death metal has to offer, but that doesn’t mean anyone can put forth a worthwhile performance. We’ve seen numerous acts try their best to emulate the core ideals and flavors of what has always made Swedish death metal a real beast of a sound with few outside Sweden able to pull it off well to any degree. From the heart of Italy, however, Kavis had no such issues whatsoever. Armed with just three tracks for the debut EP of “Horrend”, Kaivs has put forth an utterly voracious display of power and true understanding of Swedish death metal that leaves many of their competitors far behind without so much as a dream of closing the gap. Relatively simple in their approach but all the more devastating because of it, Kaivs makes it clear from the outset of their conquest in the underground that they’re not here to dance around the notion of bringing forth real Swedish death metal the likes of which are not to be denied, underestimated, nor brushed aside for their approach to the sound is as ferocious as it is well done. Where many others might fumble on their initial outing, Kaivs does no less than dominate and conquer with “Horrend”.

A small step forward in the grand scheme, but one made with real purpose and done with loads of power packed into such a seemingly simple movement. Kaivs could have easily fumbled in any aspect of this creation as so many others have, but they didn’t through clear passion of the sound and an immense determination to bring it to life in such a form that is nigh on compelling. “Horrend” is short yet immensely deadly right from the beginning, and hopefully just the beginning of what Kaivs has to offer for fans all over of Swedish death metal.

LISTEN to “Horrend” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Kaivs on Facebook here.