There are a great many “rules” loosely found throughout the underground whose importance varies from one listener to another, but there is one that reigns above them all that has lasted for decades and shows no sign of losing relevance anytime soon: if it’s not broke, don’t dare try to fix it. The old school of death metal has built a monolithic foundation off that premise with the results still being seen today for those that are able to deliver it in such a capacity that respects those original cues yet still accomplishes the feat of making it all their own. Sentient Horror has been incredibly adept at delivering such grandeur for years now with their newest creation another testament to their awesome power.

At some point, an act that revels in the passion of their craft and constantly hones their skills reaches a point that one cannot help but consider them masters undeniable, and Sentient Horror certainly seemed to have crossed that threshold with everything that they’ve dug up from the darkest crypts for “In Service of the Dead”. A real battering ram of death metal on such a scale the likes of which we’ve seen many try to ascertain throughout the underground for many years now, Sentient Horror shows us precisely how its done in grotesque detail with an army of the undead marching behind them to only further enhance their immense force and power that’s on a constantly display in these ten tracks of devastation. A voracious display of riffage that is utterly eviscerating right from the beginning with the blistering speed and undeniable intensity that permeates every given moment of the record even unto its fading moments of strategic retreat back into the tombs until the time to strike is nigh once again, “In Service of the Dead” is a true, bonafide belter of death metal! We’ve seen tons attempt death metal to varying degrees of success, yet Sentient Horror remains a true constant in their realm. Filthy, intoxicating, and simply fascinating for all of its power, Sentient Horror has everything going for it with this creation in particular showing us the talent, passion, and raw mastery that this band has always wielding with intense efficiency.

Underground mastery manifest, Sentient Horror has been climbing the ranks since day one with a powerhouse approach that has always made them a sight to behold as their brand of undeath becomes nigh on infectious with every given facet of “In Service of the Dead” offering us the most focused and well-defined execution that Sentient Horror has ever put forward. Should death metal in 2024 be boiled down to a series of essential stops, “In Service of the Dead” demands to be amongst those venerated points for rotting flesh fueled by screams of the damned.

“In Service of the Dead” releases on October 25th via Redefining Darkness Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “In Service of the Dead” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Sentient Horror on Facebook here.