Last Retch - Abject Cruelty

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Last Retch is a death metal band from Canada who formed in 2021. Their latest release, “Abject Cruelty” is their second full-length album; they have also released a demo and an EP.

This album is sick as hell and twice as brutal and whatever punishment one’s imagination might conjure about that place. Considering the album’s themes and lyrics are inspired by real life decay and desperations, the subject matter is very raw so it needs an album like this to match it musically. 

I love that it’s no-frills, no pretense too. This is straight up old-school death metal but the band’s disgusting and grimey sound is all their own. It has a ton of groove and riffs for days but it’s wrapped up in a putrid package of gross vocals (compliment) and an atmosphere somewhere between “dead bodies rotting in a swamp,” and “100 car pile up that was also hit by a bunch of asteroids.” 

It’s also catchy, far more catchy than music this abrasive has any right to be. But it earns that right through a blistering 27 minute set of 8 songs. Each one is a banger with absolutely zero filler. In a world full of intros, interludes, and outros (I bet half my promos have this crap in them) it’s far beyond refreshing to have an album that’s, you know, actual fuckings songs with a true purpose.

Having the title track open your album is always a bold statement but “Abject Cruelty,” backs it up. The opening riffs are a death metal wet dream. Oh wait. That’s not metal. The opening riffs are a death metal…blood dream. Seriously though, the tone is absolutely perfect. This. Is. Death. Metal. The tempo kicks the song up a thousand notches after the halfway point–the drumming is on point for this style. It’s not endless bashing and serves the song.

“Dissecting the Leper,” is the shortest song at just over two and a half minutes but it does a lot in that time. Killer riffs, disgusting vocals, and a tempo that goes from frantic to whiplash at the drop of a hat. At the 1:43 mark, the song pulls back slightly by offering some of the album's most headbanging moments. 

I really like the doomy opening of “Resinous Drip of Decay.” The double bass compliments the slow burn of the riffs. The song alternates between these slower parts and sudden bouts of speed but goes into overdrive near the end.  

The final song, “Gatling Gun,” is a very exciting ending for the album. The riffs are explosive from the first second and they very quickly settle into a Bolt Thrower inspired groove. Much like it’s namesake, the song is rapid fire and doesn’t let up. There is some slight use of melody here and there–it’s subtle but works amazingly well. 

Last Retch’s “Abject Cruelty,” is a fantastic OSDM album that still manages to have an identity of its own. If you like death metal at all then I can’t think of a reason why this album shouldn’t be in your collection. 

Rating: Great





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