Album Review: Coffin Rot - A Monument for the Dead

Coffin Rot’s debut album is right in line with the sort of death metal that’s been picking up traction in the last couple years. Their overall style is somewhere between Entombed and Autopsy with ultra-deep gurgles and grimy guitars that alternate between eviscerating blasts and groovier excursions. But while the Portlanders aren’t the most unique group in the scene at large, they’ve already set themselves apart as one of the most enjoyable.

As befitting the aesthetic, the album is presented with just the right amount of filth. The raw production job swiftly dissuades any notions of polish but there’s enough balance for the savagery to still have some semblance of coherency. The musicianship conveys this mindset even further as the drums put forth some intricate patterns that avoid sounding too mechanical or sloppy while the guitar tone is grainy yet beefy. The growls can be one-note and the bass can sometimes be lost to the grime, but it all works well together.

But what ultimately works in Coffin Rot’s favor is their ability to write songs that are actually memorable. These tracks aren’t exactly dynamic and feature the constant tempo shifts that can quickly lead to interchangeability, but the band is really good about providing ear catching riffs that better prepare the listener for the onslaughts to come. “Forced Self-Consumption” is a strong standout in this regard due to its downright swinging riff set while “Miasma of Barbarity” and “Incubation of Madness” make the most of those grooves. Elsewhere, “Saw Blade Suicide” and “Necrotized” make for some short but sweet rollercoasters.

The album’s coup de grace comes with the band’s self-titled song. The seven-minute runtime casts a menacing shadow over the largely two to four-minute bashings before it and its crawling pace fully embraces the doom that was merely hinted at. It’s enough to make you wonder why they didn’t self-title the album itself, but A Monument for The Dead is a pretty sweet moniker.

Overall, Coffin Rot’s debut album is an incredibly strong first impression. While this filthy brand of death metal could hardly be called accessible in the traditional sense, the band’s penchant for catchy riffs in combination with a compact half hour runtime makes it easier to get into compared to many of their peers. They may not bring much to the table in terms of originality but they’re quite endearing.

Highlights:
“Saw Blade Suicide”

“Forced Self-Consumption”

“Incubation of Madness”
“Coffin Rot”

Final Grade: A-