February 26, 2013 | , | 4

Megascavenger, Descent of Yuggoth

Megascavenger: Descent of Yuggoth

Some people just have too much time on their hands. Most of them don’t know what to do with it or themselves and end up sitting on their asses, wasting away. Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Ribspreader, Bone Gnawer…) is not one of those lazy fucks. It seems like this guy isn’t happy unless he’s filling every living second of his existence with some form of death metal. And we, as metal fans, are all better off as a result.

Johansson’s latest project, Megascavenger, has just released its debut full-length and it is chock full of buzz-sawing Swedish death metal and a slew of who’s who in terms of guest performers. Joining the deviant busy bee on guest vokills are Dan Swano (Bloodbath), Marc Grewe (Morgoth, Insidious Disease), Jorgen Sandstrom (ex-Grave, Torture Division) and Paul Speckmann (Master, Death Strike). But wait, that’s not all. You also get guest solos by Pestilence’s Patrick Mameli, Puteraeon’s Jona Lindblood and Asphyx’s Eric Daniels. Now, if that’s not one hell of a way to introduce your latest endeavor, I don’t know what is.

“Nihilisticon” gets things started off nicely with a sound that hints towards Hail of Bullets as a subtle melody weaves amongst the bruising riffs. The track quickly shifts to a bull-dozing rumble similar to Bolt Thrower, on cruise-control as guttural vocals belch and growl above it all. There’s a second vocalist in this one, but it’s not Speckmann (his roar is so distinct) and I don’t believe it to be Swano, but it does add a nice dynamic to the album opener. More steam-rolling rhythms and driving riffage persists on the murky and crushing title track. So far, just two songs in, and this album has been beefy as hell with a full and dense overall feel that suits the material nicely.

“Smokescreen Armageddon” ramps up the lurching pace of the first two songs to a pile-driving frenzy as it explodes out of the gate with rumbling drums and a sick solo. It’s about as amped up as the album gets for most of its swampy, sludgy length. I love the low-end buzz of “Catapulted Through Aeons” as it does its damnedest to level civilizations as Johansson growls away. It’s a killer track. “Void of Damnation” slows to a crawl with lurching riffs. “Funerals and Ceremonies” gets back up to a solid groove with galloping drums and infectious riffage. Paul Speckmann’s distinct, unhinged delivery is easily identifiable on “No Haven for the Sane” as he adds a whole new feel to Johansson’s own gurggling growls.

At some point the album (at “Death Obsessed” I believe), the production shifted big time. I’m not sure if the last three tracks were recorded elsewhere, but they are not nearly as polished as the previous six. it gives the songs a decidedly older feel that’s also a bit bass-heavy, but whatever, it doesn’t really take away from the performance too much.

For a guy that has so many projects on his gore-splattered plate, Johansson sure seems to have a limitless well of ideas. Megasacavenger is just another outlet for him to let loose with his sludgy, murky take on destructive death metal. Descent of Yuggoth is grimy and old school in the best of ways. It may not be pushing the envelope, but it’s thoroughly soaked it in the viscous drool of the many tentacled visions that dance in their makers mind.