how about (Zombiefication) Mexico’s leading Death Metal band, is due to attack Europe with its crushing music, a mix of classic aggression and emotions. Supported by its label, Chaos Records, Zombiefication is intent on spreading the plague far and wide, to return the favour done by the Swedish Death Metal bands in the previous decades. Zombiefication has released two massive and critically-acclaimed albums ‘Midnight Stench’ and ‘Reaper’s Consecration’ EP through Chaos Music.
It must be known that Zombiefication has the composer of Majestic Downfall, which is primarily a Death/Doom Metal band from Mexico specializing in creating emotive melodies. It’s an important aspect of music over here since Jacobo Cordova is playing old school Death Metal and you don’t want it to be just another redundant clone. To play in this style of Death Metal is evidently a trend, with bands adding little to it other than just rehashing the Swedeath sound, at the most adding some brutality or studio darkness to it. Wary of the same, yet confident of the guitarist’s prowess, Zombiefication dispels all doubts and proves to be a worthy contender of being one of the best bands in this so-called wave of Swedish Death Metal (sic).
As mentioned, Zombiefication is from Mexico but the sounds are rooted in the Scandinavian scene. The most valid comparison I could make is Desultory circa ‘Into Eternity’. It’s basically Entombed with melodies similar to Edge of Sanity, the thrashiness and heaviness intact. That’s a damn fine sound to emulate and Zombiefication do it with panache. Moreover, it brings its own stream of melodies that we’re accustomed to hearing from the band’s original avatar, however in a different format. Cenotaph and The Chasm paved the way for Mexican Death Metal back in the day and Zombiefication is taking it forward like no other. Indeed it’s derivative, which is the only drawback apart from the music sounding too punchy rather than contemplative, which it can very well be, plumbing depths not reached by any such band in recent times. What it’s doing however is pretty remarkable, shredding and rumbling like the modern bands like say Entrails or Blood Mortized, but keeping the melodic strains replenished throughout.
It’s the best kind of music you can expect really, without doubt, if you’re a fan of this style of vigorous Death Metal of the old kind. It’s nothing repulsive or stomach-churning, nothing dark or synthetic, which is a relief, because this sounds genuine at the same time contemporary. It’s very good for what it’s doing, although not carving a sound or path of its own, even though it comes close with its mingling of Unanimated or Necrophobic-esque thrashing with punchy Death Metal power. But the melodies are the only thing that keeps the band a notch above, since none of the newer bands have the chops to come up with sublime melodies as Zombiefication and if it could focus on writing moodier and elaborate songs like say Deathevokation, the band would truly be a force to be reckoned with, all over again. It’ll be like the ’90s with the essence intact yet relevant with the inevitable flourishes of modern bands but palpable sensitivity.
This is the strongest music in this style that you can expect really. Moreover, it’s not shallow or faceless. It’s doing something remarkable, showcasing a plethora of riffs with timeless appeal but more importantly divine melodies that are only capable of touching the heart. Amazing band and clearly one Death Metal fans of all age groups should look into, the old ones for well-meaning nostalgia and the new ones for a bridge between what made Death metal special in the first place and how to enjoy it, like they are used to doing nowadays.