Rotheads - Sewer Fiends

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Since the end of the Iron Curtain (basically, it happened in the second half of the 80s), when communism imploded in Russia and all affiliated countries, Metal bands started to appear and unleash their musical works. Obviously Romania is a country with some tradition in the genre, and now, the country shows a new name: ROTHEADS. They are releasing their first album, “Sewer Fiends”.

It seems that Old School Death Metal is a new trend, because we hear a lot of them lately. But these Romanian guys know how to play in a heavy, raw and aggressive form, even without being something new at all. As many bands playing into this same way, they have talent and potential, but need some improvements. As is extremely common on bands from this specific musical format, the sound quality of “Sewer Fiends” is trying to simulate the rawness and brutality of the 90s, but without trying to be a 90s recording. There are many moments when you have the idea that the producer worked to make their music sounds clear and alive, even in this Old School form. In this way, they found a good sonority, with nasty organic instrumental tunes and a good clarity level.

The simple and aggressive arrangements of “Sewer Fiends”, the very good rhythmic changes of “From the Glowing Goo Rise” (where bass guitar and drums are doing a good work), the raw and funereal slow tempos of “Rats in the Walls”, and the long and brutal “The Mad Oracle of Seweropolis” (filled with very good guitars and grunts) can be named as their best moments, besides “Sewer Fiends”, as an album, shows that they still have a way to go. I truly hope that evolution will lapidate their music in the right way, but for now, “Sewer Fiends” deserves a careful listening from Old School Death Metal fans.


Originality: 6
Songwriting: 8
Memorability: 7
Production: 7