After Dismember comes Grave with a new album. The so called old-school Death Metal bands are busy in the year 2004. And well, it's real nice to hear early 90's group coming out with new stuff in the 21st century. Grave have stayed true to their original foundation and ideals, so what about 'Fiendish Regression' then?

The album starts with 'Last Journey', the drumming is real nice and the atmosphere of that song is a bit doomy but still runs death metal on that track. 'Reborn' is more thrash based, 'Awakening' beholds a more thrash riff that reminds me the start riff of Anthrax's NFL in a different tone, but then the track just flows with a doom feeling embraced in a huge death metal groove. On 'Breeder' the approach is real close to a Morbid Angel track but then twists over to one of Grave´s fastest track written for a long time. Then follows 'Trial by Fire','Out of the Light' and 'Bloodfeast' which represent real nice and thick sounding riffs. 'Inner Voice' and 'Heretic' have more of a new sounding Grave and behold real catchy and groovy parts.

The album also includes two extra tracks: A cover version of St. Vitus 'Burial at Sea' and a re-recording of 'Atopsied' which was an unreleased track from 1989!

I have to point out the excellent vocals of Ola Lindgren, and new drummer Pelle Ekegren provides a solid rhythm section with bass player Fredrik Isaksson.

Sixth full-lenght studio release 'Fiendish Regression' is a solid 40 minutes wall of Swedish Death Metal, and for the first time they have changed from Sunlight Studios to the Abyss Studio to record with Tommy and Peter Tägtgren.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]