Staten Island’s Tombstoner are back with a brand new record Rot Stink Rip serving up a feast of slightly groove-tinged, OSDM with a healthy dose of thrash that the group has become known for over the past few years since they burst onto the metal scene in 2020.
We’re introduced to the record with a slow intro that suggests impending doom, that doom is delivered by the truckload when ‘Sealed In Blood’ launches itself onto the record like an arterially barrage. It’s a whirlwind of gritty riffs and machine gun drumming delivered with a feral ferocity that would make a wolverine blush.
The handoff from ‘Sealed In Blood’ to the title track ‘Rot, Stink, Rip’ and then ‘Fuckin Nasty’ is the perfect combination and the latter really dials in a thrash-laden, death metal riff fest that would feel at home on a Decapitated or modern Cannibal Corpse record.
Being familiar with their debut EP and first studio album, this new release feels like the natural continuation of the foundation Tombstoner are building. The band is going from strength to strength and growing a worthy fanbase, if they continue to put out tight, concise and quality releases like this and don’t take their foot off the gas, then I am sure they will see themselves propelled into the stratosphere of the modern metal scene.
Back to the record, ‘Metamorphosis’ is my personal standout track from the album, a hefty barrage of pure groove death with some blistering guitar work, followed by the equally heavy ‘Compulsive Ruminations’ which is also worthy of a shout-out.
To sum up, this is another steller release from Tombstoner, a great follow-up to their previous work but also a great introduction to what the band are all about and what they are capable of, this record is possibly the best example of what this band really is that they’ve put out so far.
Rot, Stink, Rip releases April 26th via Redefining Darkness Records.
