Sanguisugabogg – Hideous Aftermath (Review)

Sanguisugabogg are ready to drop their third full-length Hideous Aftermath on October 10th via Century Media Records. Produced by none other than Kurt Ballou, this record brings ten neck-breaking tracks that deliver nothing but maximum brutality.

From the very first seconds of the opener “Rotted Entanglement” you’re thrown straight into a death metal massacre. Non-stop blast beats, a snare sound that feels like it could crush your bones, and an overwhelming wall of sound leave no time to breathe. At the same time, you’ll notice that Bogg experimented with their approach: when they slow things down a little, the whole record takes on a claustrophobic, suffocating vibe – and then out of nowhere they crush you with another slam. Groove and brutality walk hand in hand here.

One of the record’s highlights is the sheer number of guest spots: members from Peeling Flesh, Full of Hell, Cattle Decapitation, Nails and Defeated Sanity all show up to make Hideous Aftermath even more devastating. Songs like “Ritual of Autophagia” feel way darker and more depressing than anything the band has done before, with slower sections that are grimy as hell. On the other hand, tracks like “Heinous Testimony” or “Abhorrent Contraception” prove there are no limits for Sanguisugabogg when it comes to writing the most disgusting and violent riffs imaginable. Everything here feels like one huge fight scene.

The band also dares to branch out a bit. “Repulsive Demise” has an almost industrial edge, ripping your face off in a different but still organic way that unmistakably screams “Sanguisugabogg“. And then there’s “Paid in Flesh“: nearly eight minutes long, it’s the perfect closer. The sludge-soaked atmosphere combined with Dylan Walker’s (Full of Hell) guest appearance makes for one of the heaviest endings you could wish for, while also showing just how much the band has grown over the past years.

Hideous Aftermath is not just another brutal Death Metal record. It’s a diverse, refreshing and punishing release that pushes Sanguisugabogg to the next level while cementing their status as one of the best death metal bands in the game right now.