Review by Michael on March 10, 2022.

Rotten Casket? Maybe not everybody knows about this band but I guess with this new 4-piece-EP called First Nail In The Casket released as a CD via Supreme Chaos Records this will soon change. The band already released two EPs in 2015 but in 2018 they disbanded and got reactivated with new members in 2020.

Starting off with 'Covid 119' you soon get aware of what the guys are about. The first really disgusting scream sounds like Martin van Drunen and surprise – it IS Martin van Drunen. With him is Asphyx drummer Stefan “Husky” Hüskens and so it is not the biggest surprise that you can hear some similarities to Asphyx. Other members are the only remaining founding member Frank Bergesson on the guitar, the new Sodom guitarist Yorck Segatz and Disabuse bass player Patrick van der Beeck from the wonderful Dutch city of Winterswijk. The biggest difference to their main band is that the Dutch-German collaboration left out the more doomy parts but give full speed in all the tracks which is at least for me very appealing. But it is not just a faster Asphyx version that we can find here but also some more Swedish death metal influences like in the middle part of 'Covid 119' or 'Coffin Birth' and some punkish vibes, especially what is concerning the drumming (just listen to the first riffs of 'Bonetomb Residents'.

The quality of the musicians is undeniable and all five guys are doing a very good job. Martin's vocals are yelling, sick and brutal as always and the sawing guitars underlines the death metal vibe. Not to forget Huskys drumming which is well-timed and very powerful. The production which was made in Tom Meier Studios in Enschede is very well done and leaves no room for complaints.

The tracks are very catchy and entertaining and I guess if you like Asphyx and similar bands like that Rotten Casket is going to be a must have for you. Unfortunately the EP is over after a short running time of 18:30 minutes so that you have to press the play button right away for another run. Let's hope that there will be a follow-up full-length album soon.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10