DARK REMAINS Planet earth scourged Review

DARK REMAINS (Ned) – Planet earth scourged
CD 2005 – Burning Misery Records
11 tracks – 39’00
Rated: 7/10
Sick of the invading of brutal death metal in Netherlands and you missed the old days of SINISTER, ACROSTICHON or GOREFEST. So you will be glad to read that DARK REMAINS is playing some old school death metal from the 90’s.
Their previous release “Death manifestation” was still in that rotten vein, maybe a bit thrashier and more early MORBID ANGEL influenced.
“Planet earth scourged” is strongly and purely death metal oriented. I found this second release more obscure in the vein of early INCANTATION, AVULSION and even DISCIPLES OF MOCKERY.
Riffs are simple but easy to remember although don’t expect innovation, this is old school death metal for those into the bands mentioned, enjoying dark creeping music with slowdowns and guttural vocals. Some screamed vocals black metal alike appeared in “Misanthropic rage” but that’s the only digression I would say.
Melody isn’t completely banned but is used with parsimony to just increase the dark vibe (a bit in the Finnish death metal vein, but less funeral-like of course).
I just regret the very few guitar solos and leads but on the whole that’s a good release, satisfying for me. The album ends with two good sounding live tracks just not here to fill the CD but showing the band’s potential.
http://www.myspace.com/darkremains