LIK – Necro
Release Date: 18th April 2025
Label: Metal Blade Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Swedish Death Metal, Death Metal.
FFO: Bloodbath, Entombed, Dismember, Grave, Unleashed.
Review By: Rick Farley
“LIK – the modern day purveyors of classic Swedish death metal – gloriously return to action with their fourth album Necro via Metal Blade Records on April 18th, 2025.”
Drenched in ghastly horror and classic chainsaw toned guitars, the Stockholm based Swedeath flag bearers LIK (Corpse in Swedish) are staying true to the genre with a familiar but revitalized sound that’s purely theirs while still paying homage to so many great bands that came before them. Like a few other notable metal genres, Swedeath has remained mostly the same since the late eighties, and for good reason. Dry, course growls over heavily distorted mid to fast-paced riffs that sounds like grinding metal on metal with a rusty saw. Bottom heavy low end and tons of groove round out the sound, creating a buzzing warmth. Small bits of melody and traditional solos are also pretty standard fare, so it’s rather hard to find a modern band still doing this sound justice. Not to be confused with melodic death metal from Gothenburg, Swedeath is all about the buzz sawing rhythmic backbone with a little influence from thrash and hardcore punk taking it to a much rawer sound.
Since their gore soaked debut Mass Funeral Evocation in 2015, LIK has been worthy ilk of the genre’s legendary bands from the very beginning of their careers. Pushing boundaries just enough to veer off from the pack, but still reaming true to the original vision of the genre’s creators. From Entombed to At the Gates to Autopsy, you’ll find something on Necro worth fighting through rotting hordes of the undead for. Just watch out for the entrails.
Loaded with horrific stories of nightmarish creatures, war, murder, and world apocalypse, Necro doesn’t break any new ground aesthetic wise, but honestly that’s a good thing in my opinion and the lyrics are done well. The idea of killing zombies seems pretty fucking cool to me, so really no need to fix what’s not broken.
The first track written before the album was even actually started, War Praise is nothing short of intensified, bloodshed. Thrashy, fast and classic Dismember influence, this is murderous old school death metal executed perfectly. Absolutely fierce, energetic, and catchy as fuck, if this track doesn’t move you, you’re probably already dead.
The ridiculously heavy They tells the story of creatures living underneath the city, tormenting and killing the humans. Super crunchy and rhythmic, the gnarly guitars bounce around skull crushing everyone in their path. Quick upbeat tempo from the drums sets up the stomping parts more effectively than just purely fast or purely groovy. A rampaging mix between the two, and this track is a wrecking ball of intensity.
Morgue Rat, a song partially inspired by the infamous necrophiliac Karen Greenlee, brutalizes with ugly innards punching, thick groove. Deliberate crawling pace twisting and writhing in pain, it feels like it’s coming for you. Dirty, and teeth gritting, this is fucking death metal the way it should be.
Once again produced by Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, Decapitated) Necro sound fucking monstrous. HM2 toned guitars with nasty bite, a warm foundation of thick bass and thunderous drums, this record sounds hideous and welcoming at the same time. The killer zombified album art is credited to Jens Olsson of Ink Fanatics, with demonic vocal talents credited on Morgue Rat from Linnae Landstedt and on In Ruins by legendary vocalist Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost, Bloodbath).
In short, Necro is wholesome gruesome fun, full of heart worming death metal guaranteed to break some necks, spill some blood and unleash the dead. Easy recommend.
(4 / 5)
