Swedish death metal connoisseurs undoubtedly know the name Rogga Johansson. It would be impossible not to, given the fact that he is always releasing a new album with one of his many bands (Metal Archives currently lists Johansson has having 47 active bands). Johansson is back today with a new Ghoulhouse album, Realm of Ghouls, which is streaming at Decibel ahead of its official release.
Realm of Ghouls is a pretty cut-and-dry slab of crusty death metal, delivering chainsaw riffs—assisted by lead guitarist Håkan Stuvemark, who plays with Johansson in Ribspreader—and tales of zombies and gore. In addition to the new album premiere, which you can hear below, Johansson went through the new album track-by-track to give the bloody backstory and inspirations.
Realm of Ghouls is out on December 5 via Horror Pain Gore Death.
Realm Of Ghouls by GHOULHOUSE
HACKSORE
A perfect opener, if you ask me. Brutal and ugly but with a nice epic lead in the intro. Set the tone of the album, this isn’t rocket surgery. This is blunt force pounding in musical form. Rather apparent lyrics too as always with Ghoulhouse, a zombie getting the short end of the stick.
ROTTEN RANCID REMAINS
And then we are right back at the usual topic. Instead of the zombies being gutted, it’s humanity that suffers that horrid fate. Musically it’s Ghoulhouse in a nutshell, midpaced downtuned and really rotten, with the gutturals at least trying to conjure some anthemic stuff for the chorus.
MALL FULL OF ZOMBIES
Classic setting, that’s right, a mall full of zombies. Not the best place to be, really.
Piledriver drums and chainsaw guitars galore, another midpaced facepuncher. And as throughout this album there’s tasteful leads thrown in just to make the listen a bit more glorious. The main solo even sports some wah wah work, which never is a bad thing if you ask me.
KINGDOM OF SQUIRMING WORMS
Here we get to meet those guys we all eventually will meet, the worms and maggots. Finally we step out of the midpaced pool and deliver some well deserved faster stuff as well for this smorgasbord of crawling filth.
WHERE GHOULS ARE BRED
Ever wondered where they come from? Those rotten crawling creatures beneath your bed, I mean. Here’s a tale about just that. All set to the wonderful notes of really groovy downtuned death metal.
DYING IN THE CITY (OF THE LIVING DEAD)
Time for a breather after all that noise? Well here’s a little interlude with a pure ‘80s vibe, based on a movie we all know and love so very much.
FETID FLESH FAIRYTALE
Another anthem of ghouls scavenging the night for fresh flesh. Merging both uptempo and midtempo, making for some solid headbanging through the whole song.
PIT OF MAGGOTS
Another song about maggots and worms? Yeah, why not. After all, we will all be their dinner eventually so why not make friends right now. Musically, we are back to the midpaced neanderthal way of doing it.
REALM OF GHOULS
And then the ghouls again? Yes! Ghouls and maggots and worms, that’s what it’s all about man! And zombies of corpse, always zombies! And also more of the massive, bonecrushing Ghoulhouse death metal, no higher tempos allowed!
ROTHEAD
Undead minotaurs, do they exist? Well they do here indeed! And they plow ahead just like this song, with total streamroller power!
DEVOURED BY FAMINED PIGS
How about as a finale we get eaten by a bunch of pigs? Not very nice right? Sounds utterly painful as well, but set to the tones of this almost epic song it might get a little easier.
The post Full Album Stream: Ghoulhouse – “Realm of Ghouls” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.