Review: “The Second Death” by Katakomba

Nine years ago, a crack commando unit of Swedish Death Metal warriors was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Stockholm underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune, turning stages to sawdust and reducing venues to rubble with their HM-2 driven assault. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire Katakomba. Recorded, produced and mixed in house by Fabian Brodén at Studio Stugan, the follow up to their 2022 self titled debut promises another wave of darkness. Mastered by Lawrence Macrory (Decapitated, Nightrage, Paradise Lost) at Rorysound Studios and adorned by artwork from Jens Olsson of Ink Fanatics, its time for more blood, more guts and more gore!

There is no mistaking the influences Katakomba draw from as “Aquelarre” rears its ugly head like a prehistoric beast. Roaring out of the gate like a dungeon whippet chasing a zombie rabbit around the Devil’s dog track in Hell, the five piece quickly reach ramming speed with the clanky bass from Magnusson prominent in the mix. Melodic Death Metal soloing, hints at the Black ‘n Roll inspired by Motorhead as well as pinch of Crust Punk for seasoning are all found on the floor around Pandora’s box. The first of three guests appears on “Atropos” in vocalist Svartkonst, who issues a warning with a deeper, darker death growl than that of Brodén. It’s a contrast that works well with both men taking the fierce, fire breathing approach as the groove laden riffs fly in all directions. This one has a scorcher of a solo at its bitter black heart but you’ve got to survive the damage inflicted by the pummeling rhythm section first.

You can’t help but sway to the Morbid Angel style Death Groove of “To Sow Dragons Teeth“, the hypnotic nature of the opening refrain enough to seduce before the five piece drive deeper into the apocalyptic wasteland, crushing everything in their path. Sinister leads and a harsh spoken word chorus adds a darkness to the weighty, crushing sounds that put an evil grin on the face because they’re just so damn fun. The onslaught continues with the title track “Amour Fou / The Second Death“, a brutal assault on the senses with more menacing and sinister riffage designed for HM-2 worship while bringing to mind bands like Entombed and Dismember. While tonally this is something of a nostalgia trip, it certainly doesn’t sound dated, making good use of modern production values to give everything a real energy in the gut punch.

Hitting like a battering ram at the door during a 3am Police raid on a drugs den “Mori in Absentia” is an absolute pile driver of a tune to help you breathe more easily. Breakneck speed riffing with Blackened Hardcore Punk leanings rises to the surface before a bass solo that is a touch of class, the lead guitars that follow not being allowed to overpower the HM-2 rhythmic battery. Brodén deserves a lot of credit for this work at the mixing desk because he’s nailed what the band were looking to achieve. Tomas Åkvik of Nail, Bloodbath and Lik adds additional guitars to the dark tale that is “Asmodea“, the band rattling the Sabre of Swedish Death Metal military might as they power through it in venomous style. Arguably one of the finer cuts on the record, it has everything an the kitchen sink you could want from any offering in the genre, the blistering energy of their live performances captured perfectly.

There aren’t many who would have predicted an acoustic moment with classical guitars on this album but in “Anhelo“, a somber moment accompanied by a spoken word, they have one and it sounds like an out take from Robert Rodriguez’s El Mariachi. It offers a moment of calm before the storm of “Saturn Devouring His Son / Vomitorium” which as you’d expect churns and burns from the very start with rumbling bass and thunderous percussion. A seven and a half minute monstrosity that packs a serious groove laden punch while having bursts of adrenaline fueled speed riffing, it’s another masterclass even if the line between Saturn and Satan in the feral screams of Brodén sounds like its blurred. Misheard lyric police? We’re handing ourselves in. There is no hiding from the glorious buzzsaw sounds of this one and while you might have heard similar before, everything here is done so well that it’s an evil pleasure to listen to [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Aquelarre
2. Atropos (ft. Svartkonst)
3. To Sow Dragons Teeth
4. Amour Fou / The Second Death
5. Mori in Absentia
6. Asmodea (ft. Tomas Åkvik of Nail, Bloodbath and Lik)
7. Anhelo (ft. Krizia Zurita)
8. Saturn Devouring His Son / Vomitorium

“The Second Death” by Katakomba is out 10th October 2025 via Majestic Mountain Records and is available over at bandcamp