The dead don’t always stay buried. Time and the elements may conspire to erase them, but some entities refuse to be forgotten. Take Avulsed, Spain’s long-reigning death metal titans, for instance, who have clawed their way back from the grave, casting off the weight of a decade in silence to unleash Phoenix Cryptobiosis—a monstrous rebirth that obliterates any doubts anyone may have had about their continued relevance.

It’s been nearly twelve years since Ritual Zombi last drenched the underground in festering gore, but from the moment the opening instrumental Limbs Regeneration whispers its way into your existence, it’s clear that this isn’t just another return—it’s a full-blown, raging resurrection. The cobwebs don’t just shake off; they’re incinerated in a maelstrom of precision brutality and unrelenting carnage.

By the time Lacerate To Dominate kicks in, all bets are off. The new line-up is a war machine in full effect, driving forward with a refined savagery that sees Avulsed hitting what many might see as a career high. The raw, unhinged fury of Stabwound Orgasm and Gorespattered Suicide is still there, but Phoenix Cryptobiosis takes things to another, denser, more sinister level. It’s an album that manages to be both grotesquely violent and sharply honed, the songwriting matured without losing its primal intent. There’s an ominous, oppressive atmosphere woven throughout, a sense of impending horror that never lets up. Not so much a collection of songs, it’s a warpath soaked in blood. And body parts, natch…

There’s no let-up, no reprieve—each track is another step deeper into Avulsed’s labyrinth of horror. Unrotted delivers cascading, carnivorous riffing and a chorus (I promise I’m not making this up) that lodges itself in your brain like a rusted meat hook. Best track Guts Of The Gore Gods showcases Dave Rotten’s imperious vocal presence, a guttural sermon from a man who sounds like he’s risen straight from the tomb. Devotion For Putrefaction ignites neurons with a drum intro that could raise the dead, while Bio-Cadaver is a mangled, bone-sawing masterpiece of death metal supremacy.

What makes Phoenix Cryptobiosis truly remarkable is its depth—this is bludgeoning stuff, for sure, but it’s no mindless bludgeoning. With each spin, new layers of horror unfold, dragging the listener further into the abyss. Whether it’s a venomous groove, the surgical strikeworthy riffing, or the eerie, spectral undercurrents, every element is dialled in to perfection. The final touch comes courtesy of Davide Billia’s masterful production, ensuring that each note hits with the force of a hammer smashing through decayed bone.

Avulsed are not here to compromise. Phoenix Cryptobiosis is everything a modern death metal album should be—unapologetically brutal, atmospherically rich, and executed with an ironclad conviction. This is undiluted death metal in an age where too many chase trends and soften the edges. With its stunning Daemorph cover art setting the tone, this beast is set to be unleashed on March 4th, and when it arrives, Avulsed will stand astride the genre like the grotesque monarchs they were always meant to be. Welcome back, you magnificent bastards.

Phoenix Cryptobiosis releases on March 4th