What a suitable name Pandemia is for this situation the world is at the moment. 'Spreading the Disease'... Sorry, 'Spreading the Message' is the debut album from this Czech death metal band, who formed in 1995.

For the good of Pandemia, they really do not sound like they were just copying (read: "being highly influenced by") some well known death metal bands that came before them. Well, still they play by the book death metal, and the material here doesn't stretch over known boundaries. Rather cool and otherworldly intros (3 of 'em!) and outro add some atmosphere and warpedness to the album (what the heck happens at the end of intro #2, I'd like to know!??!), but yeah, this was built from the blocks that many other a death metal album was.

Pandemia liked to fluctuate between mid-tempo stomp and blast beating. Heavy palm-muted riffing and tremolo picking happen, with some squealing guitars paving the gory road. More than gory, which this really isn't, is the otherworldliness of placing of notes. At many points Pandemia's quirkiness reminds me of Loudblast's fine album 'Sublime Dementia', which came out six years prior to this. More melodic yet selcouth guitar play is a very strong manifestation of Frenchmen's possible influence that mind-warped this Czech quartet. This album is the band's most "out there" to date. However, there's also more attacking parts in most of the songs, so listener knows it's death metal, huh? In all honestly this is more brutal than that Loudblast album, but still fucks with listener's brain, too.

The album benefits from short-ish songs. There is some repetition, because the band clearly wanted to express themselves in a concise space, but it hardly really does not happen in one song. The compositions themselves aren't all fluid, but somewhat bumpy rides at times. But hey, the vibe is eccentric anyway, so... Add some spattered guitar soloing, and... Nothing is given easily, but needs to be focused on.

The rhythm guitar tone is meaty, as well as are the kick drums. The bass is well audible in the mix, and sounds like it is an own entity therein. The shrieking guitar, open-string stuff and tremolo playing bring in coldness and sharpness. The vocals are admirable, and are in vein of Carcass's Jeff Walker every now and then, so one can expect some nasty, lacerating throaty growling. The lyrics (which, sadly, aren't printed since I do not believe anybody can work them words out) seem to center around mental suffering.

From familiar building blocks, Pandemia created a fine debut album for the millenial insecurity. Certainly, only death-heads need to inspect it, or at least, should do so. It still retains its absurdity, after over two decades, and at the same time, kicks ass! This is good old death metal, kids.

Rating: 8 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
09/16/2020 20:24