Gruesome return withSilent Echoes, a ferocious Death Metal onslaught, fuelled by progressive, razor sharp musicianship. Celebrating over a decade as the finest purveyors of old-school Death Metal inspired by the legendary Chuck Schuldiner and the many iterations of Death, the new album sees Gruesome transition away from the no-frills riff-fests heard on theirSavage LandsandTwisted PrayersLPs, and shift towards a more nuanced form of terror.Silent Echoesis the quartetstrue put up or shut-up moment for one simple reason: It was written and recorded in the spirit of Death’s 1991 progressive death metal masterpiece,Human.

The prolonged gestation period between Gruesome albums was the combination of several factors, yet none more significant than the untimely and unexpected passing of Cynic and Human-era Death drummer Sean Reinert in 2020. Reinert was the best friend and mentor to Gruesome drummer Gus Rios and was originally slated to produce the album. Instead, Rios, along with vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey, lead guitarist Daniel Gonzalez and bassist Robin Mazen, turnedSilent Echoesinto a tribute to Reinert, whose influence and presence onSilent Echoesis everywhere.

Silent Echoesis Gruesome’s transmutation into the complex, jazz-influenced fields ploughed on Human. As Harvey states, theres less winking at the audience on this one, which is true: The overtly intentional homages found on the bands previous two albums have been replaced with fluid, agile drum work from Rios, as well as spiraling, multi-faceted guitar riffing from Harvey and Gonzalez, the latter responsible for the albums melodic leads.

At a time when the thirst for all things Chuck Schuldiner remains unquenchable, leave it to four accomplished, true, well-intentioned death metal veterans to help continue the mans legacy.

Format / LP
Released / 06/06/2025
Catalogue / RPE-75821
Barcode / 781676758210
Artist / Gruesome
Label / Relapse
Genre / Punk / Metal