Review: “Cavernous Necrophagy” by Trench Foot

From inception in 2021 until May 2023, Merseyside Liverpool Old School Death Metal project Trench Foot remained the solo project of multi instrumentalist and vocalist Joe Bradley (Blood Rage, Cryptic Shift, Maleceptor). However after a pair of EPs in 2021’s “Sacrificial Gore” and 2022’s “Moral Obscenity” a decision was made to transition to a full band with bassist Kayne Watson (Putrid Possession, Coprocephalic Mutation, Reaper), drummer Harry Walker (Black Kettle, Devils Henchmen, Betrayal Incorporated) and guitarist Max Baker (Hellbastard, Visions of Disfigurement, Unrelenting Disgust) all joining the ranks. Their first commitment to tape together is “Cavernous Necrophagy“, recorded by Johnathan “Tripy Pijin” Cording (Bodies on Everest, Crepitation) and mastered by Matt Aguilar (Cryptum, Insanity Deification) at VileProductions, begging the question what can Bradley do with an army of seasoned musicians at his disposal?

Those aforementioned previous records were distinctive in that they were in a New York Old School Death Metal style with hints of Swedish HM2 influence and amazingly enough, despite the new recruits, that remains very much the blueprint for the Trench Foot sound. Curiously enough the introduction piece is a spine tingling moment of magic courtesy of Freudstein that cleanses the mind in preparation for the evil to come as he has created a John Carpenter movie soundtrack style piece of Fulci proportions. That paves the way for “Subterranean Anthropophagi” which gallops in like the four horsemen of the apocalypse, old school riffs being fired off in all directions. An electric pace is set by the pummelling percussion as Bradley roars like a beast from the black depths, a blistering solo a moment of fleeting respite from the savage beating. Moving into Death Groove territory with consummate ease “Gradually Torn in Two” paints a bloodstained picture in medieval horror. Bradley’s voice has simply become an weaponised implement of mass destruction at this point, the lyrical narrative lost in the barked brutality. That’s by no means a bad thing as Watson’s clanky bass lines rise up in the mix like coffins in a flood, his rhythmic prowess making for a solid backbone from which the riffs can inflict their damage.

Another colossal Death Groove riff opens the arteries as “Cutaneous Myiasis” emerges from Hell’s gate, a mid track bass solo a blissful moment amidst the chaos. A flamboyant solo adds a spice that’s nice to the mayhem and you wonder if this could be enough to take them to Maryland Death Fest, such is the consistent quality on display. Re-recording “Canine Mutilation” from 2021’s “Sacrificial Gore” is an interesting move, perhaps an indication of the intent to playing the song live. This new rendition is twenty one seconds longer than the original, the band injecting that time in building up the sinister and menacing introduction before going for the jugular with an Entombed inspired riff. The biggest single change is Bradley’s vocals, originally raspy and dry throated when the project started out, having since evolved into something more traditional. All in all a blood thirsty fresh start from a band on the war path and on this evidence it shouldn’t be long before they’re troubling Horror Pain Gore Death Productions to try and get something on vinyl [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Introduction (ft. Ryan “Freudstein” Wills of Born Undead, Grave Ghoul and Seven Doors)
2. Subterranean Anthropophagi
3. Gradually Torn in Two
4. Cutaneous Myiasis
5. Canine Mutilation (2025 version)

“Cavernous Necrophagy” by Trench Foot is out 7th March 2025 and is available over at bandcamp.