Cemetery Filth are a band that were formed in early 2014, but immediately they do impress a lot. And with ‘a lot’, I mean a lot! The quartet, i.e. vocalist / guitar player Matt Kilpatrick, drummer Jonah Turner, guitarist Ryan Guinn, and bassist Neal Williams, recorded their part at different locations and at different moments, since they live in different areas in North-Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. Soon these guys started writing their first songs, and they finished the recording of three of them in June. This material, gathered under the banner of Screams From The Catacombs, was originally digitally released, and then put on CD-r via White Ship Records, which is co-ran by Matt (and David Prae of Living Decay / Haunting-fame). This duo also owns the White Ship Records Studio, where vocals and guitars have been recorded, by the way, and David took care of the mix.
Screams From The Catacombs lasts for thirteen minutes and consists of three tracks, the title song, Gateway Among The Graves, and Cemetery Filth. It brings a purest form of Old School Morbidity à la Autopsy, Grave, Obituary, Morgoth, Massacre, Asphyx, Dismember, Demilich and the likes, with connections to more recent acts like Denial Fiend, Graveyard, Ectovoid, Degial, Vastum and the whole Iron Bonehead- or Invictus-roster, if you want to. Once again, originality = 0, quality = 10/10! Damn, these three songs are so enthralling, so inspirational, so infecting. Everything fits: the changes in tempo, the balance rhythm - melody, the deep, evil grunts, the hypnotic solos, the obscure atmosphere, and the rough yet smashing sound. It is almost incredible to notice that this band was founded less than a year ago, to come up with such majestic effort. And what’s more, despite the recording sessions at different times and places, it sounds oh so natural and organic. I am really blown away!
One issue, however: three songs only… This must last longer, much longer!!!
FYI: Unspeakable Axe Records, a sub-label of the known Dark Descent Records, recently released this EP on cassette. And at this moment, Cemetery Filth are preparing new material for an upcoming split (with Ectovoid, Sabbatory and Trench Rot!), which will be released via Unspeakable Axe Records too. Something to impatiently watch out for!