Lik - Necro

Lik is a Swedish death metal band that formed in 2014. Their latest album, “Necro,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released a split and an EP. 

I could end this review right here with one simple sentence: Lik’s “Necro,” is one of THE best death metal albums I’ve heard in the first half of this year. Maybe the best. It’s really fucking good. Why? Well, why wouldn’t it be? Is anyone surprised about the quality of this album? Featuring former and current members of Katatonia, Bloodbath, Nale, and Mefisto, the pedigree here is insane.

What else is insane? How goddamn catchy this album is. Does death metal have any right to contain this many hooks and memorable moments? If “Necro,” is any indication then yes, yes it does. Across the album’s 10 track, 40 minute runtime, there isn’t one moment where I didn’t say to myself, “Well, I need to hear that again.” I don’t know if I’m the only one but this album reminds me of some of The Crown’s stuff at times, which is only a good thing in my humble opinion.  

If you need to be convinced, check out the opening song, “Deceased.” Within 20 seconds, the album has already kicked off a blazing solo with a march towards fields of groove, groove, and more groove. The drums are so complimentary of the music—the band is constantly on the same page, moving as one bulldozing Swedish death machine. The song sounds maddening in places where the riffs pull back on the tempo while the drums keep hitting like punches to the face. Another solo rips through around the halfway mark, the leads coming in and out of the grooved chaos with ease. Right before the three minute mark, some of the coolest guitar and bass I’ve heard gets my entire moving. Absolutely mesmerizing in its ferocity.

"They,” is constructed of a killer tone—it’s deady, sinister, and razor sharp. The groove is a bit more galloping across the song but it's like a wave—just unrelenting until it crests, breaks, and comes back all over again. The bass adds a layer of thickness to many of the passages and I like that density, keeps the song meaty without compromising any of the groove. The last moments are a slower mosh that sounds utterly bonkers with a good pair of headphones.

One of the highlights for me has to be “Morgue Rat.” While it isn’t exactly doomy, it’s slower than some of the other songs and just permeated with a sick, disgusting atmosphere that made me feel very wrong while listening to it. I mean, this is death metal. If you don’t feel a little wrong at some point while jamming, is it even really death metal? The bass offers a surprising twist just after the halfway point as it pulls all the focus to itself, allowing the drums to help build the song back up. Lik might be totally uncompromising but they aren't’ afraid to venture outside the lines, either.  

They also don’t shy away from melody—check out that solo for “In Ruins.” The song still contains all the putrid grime one would expect from Lik but it also has several moments that are tinged with melodic notes. I find this works pretty well for their sound because it isn’t overdone but also seamlessly integrated into their core sound.

The album ends on the towering “Rotten Inferno.” Within seconds, it’s a manifesto of everything that makes death metal great. But it slides into a slow, destitute passage that is pure fucking nasty. Between the slow to mid paced grooves, sweltering bass, and subtle ends of melancholic discordiances, this is probably my favorite song on the album just because of how sick, twisted, and doomy it is.

Lik have created something special with “Necro,” and if I don’t see this album getting praise from other publications then this world has gone to shit. Well, it’s gone to shit anyway so we might as well take this album along with us for whatever ride is left. 

Rating: Excellent