Review: “Time of Danger” by Goatburner

Formed in 2017 by drummer Jaakko “Spider” Forsman (Goatest, Skulmagot, Sulphur and Mercury) and guitarist vocalist Keijo “Kaos” Niinimaa (Age of Woe, Morbid Evils, Rotten Sound), it is written that Finnish Death Grind duo Goatburner was formed to create music that matched an uncompromising vision of extreme music built on crushing riffs, primitive grooves and relentless aggression. Returning to the start of their journey down the left hand path, “Time of Danger” is a compilation which unites a collection of five songs their 2018 EP “Time to Burn” and subsequent 2022 EP “Danger“, all of the tracks being remastered in 2026 by Niinimaa. The artwork which adorns it is a painting by Forsman, a reflection on the atmosphere of uncertainty, danger and death that defines not only the record but also the world that surrounds us.

Before pushing play on this six track affair there is a question over why “Time to Burn“, “White Death” and “Decapitation” are absent from this collection while “Suffocating” is added because there is no reason we can think of not to include those extra tracks but… never mind. Also curiously the record is in reverse order, the first three tracks all taken from 2022’s “Time to Burn” record, rather than being chronological.

The punishment beating that is “Lights Out” opens the arteries as a raw and heavy introduction to the Finnish duo front loaded with buzz saw riffs in HM-2 pedal worship and hammering percussive battery. Niinimaa’s vocals are on the unhinged side of Death Metal, not as darkly evil as some but more savage and shrill than others in throat ripping style. As a cut it feels like a Sepultura demo from the early 80’s where the band just smashed the shit out of their gear in their basement rehearsal space, the track deliberately left in a warts and all, rough and ready state which gives it an ocean of charm.

The second cut out of hell’s gate is the ball of fury that is “Leaf Blower” which drifts into a brutal form of Sludge Metal with caustic mid tempo groove that burns like wire. It may not have the speed of the opening cut but it’s just as intense, the duo creating a crushing wall of noise for this one. Some tribal drum patterns introduce “Brutal Awakening” in style, the churn and burn riffage gaining pace with as the words spill from Niinimaa’s mouth. A fleeting moment of violent turbulence, its gone in 68 seconds leaving Nicolas Cage standing on the curb with a bloody nose, wondering what just hit him.

The first of two cuts from 2018’s debut EP “Danger” is “Melting Misery” which is as caustic and abrasive as the title suggests. Thunderous drumming and crushing, weighty riffs are met by vocals which sound like the winds of plague as the duo do their best in inflict maximum cranial damage upon the discerning listener. The joke is of course on Goatburner because as downright nasty as that is, it still sounds pretty damn good and has all the charm of an old school horror movie on VHS.

“Suffocating” is the one, as far as we’re aware at the time of writing, previously unreleased song in this collection and it’s a barn burner. There is something reminiscent of “Insecticide” era Nirvana in parts of the riffage with slick chord changes leading to a funky bridge before things get low and slow. Breaking out of that at breakneck speed makes it a headbanger’s delight before final cut “Scorched“. Another from “Time To Burn” it scalds with surging, menacing and sinister riffs as the war drums pound. A simple but lethally effective tune it’s the mirrors reflection of the record itself, loud, noisy and violent [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Lights Out
2. Leaf Blower
3. Brutal Awakening
4. Melting Misery
5. Suffocating
6. Scorched

“Time of Danger” by Goatburner is out 9th October 2026 via Time To Kill Records