In our over-saturated extreme metal scene, it’s not about who you take inspiration from, but how intense and gut-wrenching the result is. Olkoth are clearly fans of mid-period Morbid Angel, but that’s not necessarily a problem. In 2021, Alchemy Of Flesh got away with a killer album solely focused on reproducing Where The Slime Live’s heavier-thanthou midtempo, but Olkoth’s debut goes the extra mile. It keeps the air of authority but throws in sudden, yet fully controlled bursts of rage and bombastic soloing, like a blinding blaze in the middle of a storm. The lyrical matter adds to the apocalyptic vibe, hailing HP Lovecraft’s fictional author of the ill-fated Necronomicon, Abdul Alhazred, in the opening track. Killer stuff! ■■■■■■■□□□