Pathology

Victory Records pulled a rabbit out of its hat with this one. San Diego, CA death metal outfit Pathology are not only the most brutal band on the label, but their latest release, Legacy of the Ancients, looks to be one of the most outstanding releases in death metal this year. Formed by drummer Dave Astor (the Locust/Cattle Decapitation) and featuring former members of Disgorge, Pathology certainly have a reputation to live up to. Legacy of the Ancients, the band's fourth album and Victory debut, doesn't disappoint. Tracks like "Collapsing In Violence" and "Blood Runs" scream gore-soaked American death metal, while others, like "The Extinction of Flesh," carry tons of low-end groove. Muddy guitars, paired with blast beat drumming, as well as guttural growls and pig squeals, reign heavily throughout the 30-minute album. With a sound that's Suffocation-meets-Carcass, Pathology's Legacy of the Ancients is simply obliterating.