Grand Cadaver - Into the Maw of Death

Sweden's Grand Cadaver is a new band, but their lineup has an impressive extreme metal pedigree whose experience in the genre is incredible vast. This includes Dark Tranquillity vocalist Mikael Stanne, ex-Katatonia drummer Daniel Liljekvist, and current and former members of Novarupta, Tiamat, and Pagandom. And after an EP in February, Grand Cadaver has quickly returned with Into the Maw of Death, their full-length debut.

Swedish style death metal is at the core of their sound, but Grand Cadaver don't limit themselves only to that style. "Grim Eternal" has a deliberate pace and doom influences, and it's immediately followed by "Reign Through Fire," which starts with a fast, thrashy section before easing back into a mid-tempo groove. While the music on the album isn't necessarily innovative, it is varied enough to maintain interest throughout its ten tracks. Grand Cadaver pay homage to classic Swedish bands like Entombed and Dismember, using that trademark old school buzzsaw sound.