Review SANGUISUGABOGG “Hideous Aftermath”

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Sanguisugabogg was formed in 2009 by guitarist Cameron Boggs. Over the years the band evolved into one of the most important players in the brutal death metal genre. This is partly due to the band refining their sound from a rather primitive death metal blast to a more versatile form of extreme metal. That said, Sanguisugabogg doesn’t add progressive structures to their music; it’s the harsh riffs and deep growls that define their songs. However, listening to “Rotted Entanglement” from their latest album, “Hideous Aftermath,” shows that the four-piece band incorporates smashing blast beats with eerie grooves.

TheOhio-based band takes no prisoners when it comes to their music. They add some twists to their aggressive approach, which is displayed by the blistering “Erotic Beheading.” The song title also shows a continuation of the lyrical approach, which is splatter- and gore-inspired to the point of parody.

“Heinous Testimony” is a song with well-crafted tempo breaks. Grooving parts straight out of the swamp alternate with lightning-fast sections, giving the song structure within its brutal framework.
The album also includes the five-minute headbanger “Abhorrent Contraception,” a massive groove-fest made for beer-soaked pits. The beginning of “Repulsive Demise” is a calmer moment with a creepy atmosphere. The guttural vocals combined with the hypnotic riffing create an eerie atmosphere that gives you the shivers. It is the most intense track on the album, beating everything else that counts on massive speed. This song will surely give you chills.

“Paid in Flesh” is the raging finale of “Hideous Aftermath.” With its pulverizing texture, the seven-minute, neck-muscle-challenging song shows that Sanguisugabogg has more in their toolkit than just a full-speed horror show. The middle section, with Dylan Walker’s hoarse screams, is a great addition that gives this doom-death monster an evil grin.

With their third album, Sanguisugabogg delivers a brutal album that continues their musical approach. Meat-cleaver riffs and barking vocals are the main assets of an album that offers more than an aural assault. Although it relies heavily on downtuned guitars and massive growls, “Hideous Aftermath” has a clear sound without losing any of the energy woven into these ten tracks. This album is a sonic wrecking ball that hits you right in the face.