Upon returning for a third pass nearly a decade beyond the last Baltimore, Maryland-based death metal quintet PUTRISECT appear to have redefined themselves once more but perhaps definitively on this fairly substantial self-titled EP. Entirely recognizable as a modern take on ‘old school’ death metal tropes in moderate diffusion ‘Putrisect‘ is sure to catch the ear of the classicist outright with its sound and then merely satiate when it comes to aligning themselves with a certain standard of riffcraft. By aiming for a well-rounded, steadfast and groove heavy approach to pure death metal their work appears solid in stature throughout but may potentially lack in ambition for all but the dedicated traditionalist.

Putrisect formed mid-2013 between folks who’d played in death metal band Marrow and lesser known punk and thrash groups nearby. Their gig has always centered around the pursuit of pure death metal though each release to date has approached from a slightly different angle, noticeably even offering a new logo and stylistic shift per their three EP releases to date. From the grinding cull of ‘Chaos Awaits‘ (2014) to the cavernous resound of ‘Cascading Inferno‘ (2018) visual and sonic interest in the realms proposed by early 90’s Bolt Thrower and Incantation were represented respectively. The connection between those two releases wasn’t immediately obviate in review of the latter but here eight years later they’ve rejiggered their gear and revised their sound in a way which conditionally represents each field as part of their own greater reach.

‘Putrisect‘ isn’t so much an evolution of past works as it is a temperature check at a point of high capability, a reflection of changing internal dynamics (new vocalist) and interests which find their rooting in the groovier standards of the mid 90’s. The chasmic bellow of ‘Cascading Inferno‘ is traded for immediate, unobstructed presence wherein Putrisect‘s rhythm section act as heavier-than-thou anchor for their sound design via exacting precision. Though the effect isn’t exactly as noisy or busied as ‘Dreams of the Carrion Kind‘ outright some of the tics and tendencies of that same era/stature inform how opener “Lindow Moss” and follow-up “Ritual Sacrifice” express groove and gloom up front. I don’t know if they could be accused of flatly meat-and-potatoes craft here but there is some immediate approachability afforded such a straight forward sound.

While polished/stylized production values act to unveil years worth of development in the interim my main concern as a fan is how the earlier 90’s and late 80’s conscious slate of riffcraft found on ‘Putrisect‘ ultimately connects. We could compare the effect of their work to that of Portland’s Coffin Rot in some sense as classicist patternation confidently dominates here but without any too-clear point of inspiration as Putrisect‘re able to stray into tangential brutality alongside requisite points of doomed and thrashing muse. So, yes, the riffs are there but primarily in service to the weave of each song, dodging rushed or anxiously cut rhythms and instead relying on imposing presence to stick in mind. “Ritual Sacrifice” and the harder-groove cut “Conquistador” run the gamut of this expression without unsteadying the quintet’s bargelike flow.

If we’re looking for one piece which roots all nodes under one roof it’d probably be “Slave to Lust” and moreso because it reflects some of the grindcore/hardcore punk dabbed chunking of Putrisect‘s earlier material as well as a Bolt Thrower worthy fade out, solo and all. That moment paired with a forlorn, slow-pummeled cover of “Espectro” from Machetazo‘s (Spain) final LP does a lot of work to round out the full listen and beef up ‘Putrisect‘ into a freshly representative release. If you are a returning fan who’d gotten on board via their second EP I could see why you might not get the follow-up you’d expected but we do ultimately get a well stylized example of pure death metal from these folks once more. A moderately high recommendation.

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