Claws – Absorbed In the Nethervoid (2009) [Razorback] // Grade: B+

Raw, Hard, Heavy, Skull crushing. Words I like to use when describing throwback death metal albums. Claws could easily be from Sweden in the mid-90′s. I mean, just look at that fucking album art! After being torn through the first few tracks, I’m hooked on this album. It’s slow, demented, demonic and fast in just the right places.

“Absorbed In The Nethervoid” and “Bloodsucking Sorcery” are as cacophonous as they come. Even more so than “Cacophonous Carrion”, if that’s even possible. To add to the list of tracks beginning with “C”, “Casket Contagion” slows it down again and the riffs begin to drop. Claws even add a bit of synthesizers in “Cloak Of The Sacrificial”, which is by far my favorite track of the album. Something about the vocal’s presence along with hammering drums and constantly-attacking riffs. The beast is loose!

Absorbed In the Nethervoid continues the onslaught for another 15 minutes. 9 tracks totaling around 30 minutes, ending with “Abominations That Crawl Forth”. For a closing track, it leaves you clawing for more.

- Prolly