Sewer Fiend/Plague Patrol - Split

Labels: Behind The Mountain/Calvos 73 Records/Dry Cough Records/Headsplit Records/Psychocontrol Records

Formats: Vinyl/CD/Tape/Digital

Release Date: 16 Dec 2022

Tracklist:

1. Sewer Fiend - Through Gurgling Rivers Of Sickness

2. Sewer Fiend - Into Bottomless Blight-Filled Pools

3. Plague Patrol - God From The Nameless Mist

4. Plague Patrol - Gates Of Void

5. Plague Patrol - Hidden Side Of Galaxy

After both releasing stellar demos/EPs in 2021, UK death/doom act Sewer Fiend and Czechia's OSDM  trio Plague Patrol joined forces for a split release in late 2022. It was pressed on all conceivable physical formats (excluding floppy disk and minidisc of course!) by the labels above at the time of release and while the vinyl pressing took a long time to appear, like the whole of the split, it was well worth the wait. To date it contains the latest recordings by both bands.

It’s midweek and I’ve survived the UK’s gloomiest, most depressing month. The only way is up from here! To celebrate, I’m re-immersing myself in a split record that features two of death metal’s best underground newcomers. First up it’s Sewer Fiend who contribute two songs on their side, starting with ‘Through Gurgling Rivers Of Sickness’. The duo’s musical pedigree in UK circles in second to none and as with their demo ‘Echoes From The Cistern’, they waste no time in providing killer death/doom with a cosmic, etherial sound. At times atmospheric but murkily so.

Their second song ‘Into Bottomless Blight-Filled Pools’ is equally as expansive, foregoing the brutality that often befits death metal in favour of a slower, more open approach. Coupled with the fact that this song surpasses eight minutes, it’s no surprise as to how engrossing it is. Definitely doomier than deathly, it shows just why UK death metal and it’s old-school resurgence has garnered so much attention over the last couple of years.

Czechia’s Plague Patrol produced one of my favourite demos of 2021 and here they continue with the same momentum on their opening song ‘God From The Nameless Mist’, which hits top gear straight away thanks to it’s intense tempo and sheer wall of sound that’s accentuated by those low, bellowed vocals. I guess where Sewer Fiend’s vocal delivery was more subtle, Plague Patrol’s is anything but.

‘Gates of Void’ follows after what seems like a needless pause and precedes to unleash yet more OSDM madness with added lead/twin guitar flair. It’s amazing how much music Plague Patrol can shoehorn into such a (seemingly) short song. They do slow things down later on, providing their own death/doom take. Closing with ‘Hidden Side Of Galaxy’, Plague Patrol goes all out with pummelling drums and wailing guitar leads. It’s at this point that it hits just how cohesive this trio of songs are when played in succession. As if that was any surprise though right?.

Having lived with and played this split countless times over the last couple of years, it’s still amazing that with each listen something else leaps out of the speakers. Both Sewer Fiend and Plague Patrol provide such pleasure to the listener with their unique ideals and their excellent interpretations of death metal in the modern era. I sincerely hope that they both continue what they started. Extreme music needs them.

You can stream and purchase the full split digitally below:-

Sewer Fiend - https://www.instagram.com/sewer_fiend_dm/ / 

https://sewerfienduk.bandcamp.com/album/echoes-from-the-cistern

Plague Patrol - https://plaguepatrol.bandcamp.com/album/split-2022

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Behind The Mountain Records - https://behindthemountain.net/en/produkt/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-cd-split-2/

Calvos 73 Records - https://calvos73records.bandcamp.com/album/split

Dry Cough Records - https://www.drycoughrecords.com/product/sewer-fiend-plague-patrol-split-lp-dc65

Headsplit Records - https://headsplitrecords.storenvy.com/products/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-lp / https://headsplitrecords.storenvy.com/products/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-split

Psychocontrol Records - https://psychocontrol.com/produkt/plague-patrol-sewer-fiend-split-lp

Behind The Mountain Records - https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheMountainRecs

Calvos 73 Records - https://calvos73records.bandcamp.com

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Headsplit Records - https://www.facebook.com/headsplitrecords

Psychocontrol Records - https://www.facebook.com/PsychocontrolRecords

10 Questions With Plague Patrol

In November of last year I reviewed the debut demo from Czechian death metal band Plague Patrol. After much slackness on my part, I managed to put some interview questions together to send to the band. Guitarist Radek was kind enough to answer my questions and provide an insight into the band, and the scene in Czechia.

1. Who is in the band and where are you from?

Hi James, thanks a lot for you interest in our small miserable band. We are Plague Patrol from Prague Czech Republic and we play old school death metal. We wanted to steal riffs from Incantation as well as Tomb Mold, but we suck at it. I am Radek and I play the guitar, also bass in studio. There is Slavek, a singer, and Zubar on the drums. We are just a trio.

2. What is the history of Plague Patrol? When and how did you form?

Plague is a product of covid era started in October 2020. I wanted to write some proper death metal songs for such a long time and one day I asked Zubar to try something together. Thanks to all those lockdowns we have spent most of our evenings in a rehearsal room working on songs. That’s how the demo was done. During the recording session Slavek joined us. This is it!

3. Have any of you played in previous bands and are you in any other bands currently?

Well, we have tons of different bands haha. I play also in Decultivate (chaotic hc/crust), Skiplife (powerviolence), Controlled Existence (grindcore) and some other projects. Zubar is a member of Sick Destroyer (grindcore), Controlled Existence (grindcore), Rato Triste (sludge) and some other projects as well. Slavek also sings in Morkhimmel (metallic crust). The list of bands we played in is looooong. Obviously, we are bit old for a cult of youth.

4. You released your first demo last year. Are you pleased with the way it turned out and the what was the reception to it like from fans?

Yeah, we are totally overwhelmed by positive reactions. Actually, I didn’t expect much. I just wanted to release some proper death metal music done with a proper sound. Because it was on my wishlist for so many bloody years. The reception is cool for a band with no single gig played. Especially US death metal geeks are into our music. Endless gratitude to all people around the world supporting us! You all fucking rule!

5. What are your thoughts on the extreme metal scene in Czechia at the moment? Is the community strong there?

I guess so, we have bunch great bands and people doing things helping underground to stay alive. Hard to explain within few sentences, but I got a really great feeling about the scene right now, so many inspiring people doing inspiring things. Just one band: check a new album by Lycanthrophy. Their sound became unique. 

6. Are there any bands that have influenced you?

Definitely Incantation and some other classical stuff like old Deicide, Demigod or van Drunen stuff. And among those hyped new OSDM bands I totally adore Tomb Mold because their riffs are bit different but still slimy enough and with kinda punk attitude. Great band. I also love Mortiferum, but mostly their first demo, great riffing… These are the biggest influences for my guitar work, but you cant hear it in our music, because we can play only what we play, we suck at ripping off other bands haha.

7. What are your favourite albums/EPs at the moment?

Pharmacist – Flourishing Extremities.. because their music evolution is sick as fuck

Bandit – new album not released yet, crazy chaotic grindcore from the US

Kreator – Endorama …because they released it again on vinyl recently, not a typical Kreator album, Sisters of Mercy vibe with Mille’s vox basically haha

8. Do you intend to play live with Plague Patrol?

Yeah, there might be something in 2023, not earlier. If we play live, it will be a special occasion for sure. Cant say anything else right now.

9. It is early days I know, but how do you see the band evolving?

There is no other plan than creating some good death metal music. When a song is done, the world makes more sense. It's all about this, no popularity bullshit.

10. Finally, what are your thoughts on the music industry as a whole and where do you see it’s future?

It will be the same crazy rollercoaster powered by nostalgia. For example current death metal hype is nothing but a cry for times we have never experienced. So many shitty bands are on big labels, meh… But I can live with that haha. Thanks for your support!

You can stream and purchase Plague Patrol's Demo 2021 digitally via bandcamp below:-

Tape copies are sold out from them but you can still purchase physical copies from the labels below:-

Psychocontrol Records - https://psychocontrolrecords.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2021

Psychocontrol Records - https://www.facebook.com/PSYCHOCONTROL-records

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords

Gutless Productions - https://www.facebook.com/gutlessasia

Headsplit Records - https://www.facebook.com/headsplitrecords

Plague Patrol - Demo 2021

Labels: Dry Cough Records/Psychocontrol Records/Gutless Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital

Release Date: 26 Nov 2021

Tracklist:-

1. Taxidermia

2. Bennings Bonfire

3. Oort Cloud

4. Xenogenesis

After head-banging a bit too hard last night to Lentic Waters, I realised what my evenings have been missing, so I've been perusing my inbox and I came across this demo from new Czech death/doom band Plague Patrol. Their 2021 demo is due for release towards the end of November via fellow Czech label Psychocontrol Records, Indonesian label Gutless Productions and the ever awesome UK label Dry Cough Records. I've been a follower and purchaser of Dry Cough releases since the label's first breaths (I think the only release I need to complete my collection is the War Wolf 'Crushing The Ways Of The Old' tape). In terms of Plague Patrol, I don't know that much about them other than that their sound is a mix of US/Finnish death metal with doom elements too. I think I might have to reintroduce the 10 Questions interview series in order to learn more about them (what do you think?).

After a longer than usual intro paragraph, I’m getting down to it with Plague Patrol’s demo. It’s the trio’s debut release and it’s everything you’d expect from a death/doom band. Opening song ‘Taxidermia’ is a sea of gloomy, slow riffs and raging death metal percussion, with vocals that sound like they were made for the underworld. For a trio, they’re immense and sound way louder volume/production-wise than expected. 

Plague Patrol also does atmospheric though, as demonstrated by the opening bars of ‘Bennings Bonfire’, which descends into a much more doom orientated death metal song a few moments later. Much more old school in delivery but with the modern edge we’ve come to expect from the likes of Mortiferum, Void Rot and Wharflurch. I’m not sure there are too many Czech bands that I can compare them to, but if there are please let me know!

‘Oort Cloud’ contains those thick riffs that just rip the flesh from your bones, while the vocals sound completely otherworldly. In fact the entire band sounds unbelievably tight and fiendish, which is a good thing! If doom is too slow for you and death metal is too fast, there’s always a middle ground and taking cues from scene legends like Incantation can do no harm.

Demo closer ‘Xenogenesis’ is Plague Patrol’s longest song, but don’t think it’s going to be a lumbering doom number because it’s not. Not by a long shot! It has it’s slower, murkier moments but in essence it’s just a slightly lengthier version of what’s come before on this tape. It’s a fantastically dirty take on death/doom with thrashing elements and awesome production qualities. 

Another great find from the consistently brilliant Dry Cough Records and a reason to checkout both Psychocontrol Records, and Gutless Productions, as underground and upcoming labels need more support now than ever. Plague Patrol have just laid down the soundtrack to the grim, dark months ahead. Truly amazing and harrowing at the same time. 

This demo isn't out till November 26th (meaning there's no sneak peak up yet), so you'll have to keep an eye on the below label pages for news and song premieres (I'd love to do one if those involved are interested!):-

Dry Cough Records - https://www.facebook.com/DryCoughRecords/

Gutless Productions - https://www.facebook.com/gutlessasia/

Psychocontrol Records - https://www.facebook.com/PSYCHOCONTROL-records