Review: “Kadavergehorsam” by Constrict

Celebrating a decade of destruction that began in 2015, Potsdam Germany based Grindcore quartet Constrict have finally unveiled a record in “Kadavergehorsam” (or “Blind Obedience“) that was recorded, mixed and mastered in DIY or DIE fashion between 2023 and 2024. They’re describing it as their most focused and furious work yet, which seems almost impossible given the bands reputation for fusing fast, aggressive blasts with Death Metal elements to create a sound which combines raw speed with relentless heaviness. What we can say without a doubt however is that the record is a ferocious statement against exploitation, alienation and the empty promises of neo-liberalism. Through poetically dystopian lyrics, the band confront themes such as forced labor, capitalism, self-optimization pressure and systemic inequality…

A clanky bass solo provides an ominous opening phrasing for “Trapped” before the guitars and drums come into play, a mid-tempo HM-2 inspired Death Metal groove sounding like the band metaphorically dragging the lake in search of a corpse. The flavours of Entombed don’t stop there either because 90 seconds or so in when the vocals from Fabian first rear their ugly head, you anticipate a rapid fire conclusion but instead the four piece double down. Fierce harsh vocals in shriller tones expose the underbelly of the beast, the step up they flirt with never materializing. Instead that’s saved for “Rats” which bursts at the seams with neck snapping buzz saw riffs and gravity blasting galore, the venomous tirade sounding like it was recorded live on the floor to capture their live energy. Doubling down on the speed and energy once more “Bloom” goes off like a nail bomb with two step moments at the start that twist and contort into something that sounds like it belongs in the realm of Blackened Hardcore. Drummer Matze delivers a lesson in violence that comes across like savage beating for the eardrums, his performance laden with bursts of speed and aggression as he switches between the gears in incendiary fashion.

The cut that splits the record clean in half is “Cattle“, the rumbling bass and acting like a second rhythm guitar as the quartet put the pedal to the metal once more. They hit ramming speed while proving you can do atmosphere in a short space of time, some dark horror movie style sounds hidden in the background to come out and bite you over repeated listens. By this point its pretty clear that in comparison with some of the bands older previous works, they sound leaner, meaner and more direct as if creatively they’ve found new energy with line up changes that has evidenced itself in their song writing capabilities. Not that there is anything wrong with the likes of 2018 full length album “Ulitma Ratio“, just that this sounds like a a band with more freedom. Jackhammer footwork comes into play with the savage “Purgatory“, the demonic plague wind vocals as harsh as they come as they deliver a message with a side order of scorn. A tasty hardcore breakdown in the middle of this one might actually give you chills or possibly think of “Laugh Tracks” by Knocked Loose but in reality this is so much heavier it’s like comparing tea and coffee.

A seventy one second burst of violent anguish “Mammon” cuts like a knife, the galloping drums and momentary feedback straight from the heavier end of hardcore before a bass solo finishes it with a Chef’s Kiss. Blink and you’ll miss it could be the tagline for this record but its particularly true of this one. “Fight Back” once again leans into Hardcore with its rhythms, the gang chant moment a very nice touch before the adrenaline hit of the rapid fire rhythms feels like a bolt of lightning to the skull. When a band hasn’t been away you can’t really call this a come back but it sounds very much like they’ve found their spark and are in their element on this one, which is why you’re going to play it fifteen times on repeat to get your fix [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Trapped
2. Rats
3. Bloom
4. Cattle
5. Purgatory
6. Mammon
7. Fight Back

“Kadavergehorsam” by Constrict is out 3rd October 2025 via 7Degrees Records (GER), Loner Cult Records (BE) and 783Label (UK)