Just like Cynic, Atheist, Watchtower and countless other thrash metal bands, Pestilence have reunited and have a brand new full-length. ‘Spheres’ was an experimental turn but ‘Resurrection Macabre’ is anything but a continuation.

The album is forceful death metal, ostensibly Pestilence’s attempt to be as heavy as they ever were. Songs like ‘Devouring Frenzy’ and the title track lurch into brutal death metal territory. Of course, being Pestilence, there has to be some technicality and ‘Fiend’ is a strong example.

The bonus tracks are three of Pestilence’s classics re-recorded with the new sound applied. The songs were fine previously and the band have simply stained them the colour 2009 without demonstrating a formidable progression.

‘Resurrection Macabre’ collapses with its lack of variation, with most songs speeding off at the same tempo and not much to make them discernible from each other. Obviously all of the efforts have been focused on producing a brutal release but it has come at a price. ‘Resurrection Macabre’ sounds like a completely different band but not one that matches up to the Pestilence name.

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