Nekrodawn - Covenant of Carnage

Nekrodawn – Covenant of Carnage
Release Date: 21st August 2026
Label: War Anthem Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal
FFO: Bloodbath, Torture Division, Skeletal Remains, Vomitory.
Review By: Mark Young

Now then!! A touch of Swedeath, just the ticket for these almost apocalyptic temperatures, an album that promises a lot. We know that bio’s are meant to build things up, but sometimes looking at the FFO section tells you all that you need to know. Especially when a band says, ‘heavier Hypocrisy or Vomitory’.

Covenant of Carnage is their follow up to Sculpted By Torture, and I would suggest from the off that if liked that then you will be at home with this. And as hoped there is no meandering introduction or acoustic interlude. It is simply BANG, and we are off. Neath Skies of Iron takes flight on a furious set of riffs and blasts, a 3 minute battering that announces that a vicious aural beating is on tonight’s menu. In terms of scene setting, it doesn’t get much clearer (or more brutal) than this. Speed gives way on Massacre Eternal, a steady stomp with what could be considered as a sing-along section once they drop it live. Or not, depending on how cool the crowd are. It shows that they know that they don’t have to play at light speed on every song, ensuring that you don’t get overcome by a constant grind of guitars. They aren’t afraid of bringing hooks into the mix either, check out Covenant of Carnage for an ascending pattern that works really well within the song build. They don’t forget that amongst these melodic touches that first and foremost they are a death metal band and as a result delivering riffs are where they live or die. Liberty’s Pyre is an example of keeping that in place, as is Condemned to Existence. I could have used any song on here, all of them as good as each other, all of them making good on those promises made in their bio. When lead breaks are present, such as on Condemned they are in keeping with the tone of the album; manic when they need to be. If I had to be critical, I could say that it runs a song or two too long, but that is a minor issue, and not one that detracts from the music here.

What you will find is that you could pick any song and it will possess the same aggressive nature as any of the others. They have the same enamel removing tone, the same air of violence from start to finish, with no weak material or anything that could be described as filler.

Nekrodawn aren’t necessarily looking to change things up, they know what makes for good, heavy death metal and put their songs together from a perspective of being better than anybody else. They pitch their songs just so their relative run times suit each case so there is no chance of repetition. It’s just 45 minutes of pure death metal from a band that are definitely on an upwards ascendancy.