Review by Fran on February 19, 2022.

The highly awaited debut by Arise From Worms is finally here! The first time I heard about Sonny Lombardozzi was when Incantation’s “Sect Of Vile Divinities” came out. I thought his leads were out of this world and began paying attention to him. A little bit later they started promoting the band logo and the album on social media so I knew I had to check this out. The rest of the line-up is also killer, Flo Mounier on drums and Steve Tucker on vocal duties. There's also a collaboration by Dallas Toler-Wade, who recorded guitars for tracks 2 and 3.

I don’t know the credits for songwriting or if it has something to do with the collaboration but I hear a strong Nile influence on the main riffing. Egyptian scales alongside relentless drumming and deep gutturals with clear vocalization remind me a lot of Karl Sander’s band. There’s an obvious neoclassical approach to the leads throughout the whole record that makes it different though. Bass guitar was recorded by Sonny Lombardozzi too, and it fucking shreds, incredible picking technique and formidable speed. Flo Mounier’s work needs no introduction, his double bass drum is amazing and so is his cymbal work, blast beats and fills.

The last track is non percussive at all, and it explores deeply the academical side of the lead guitarist's highly technical shredding. I wouldn’t say his leads are completely neoclassical but he uses the aeolian scale just as Malmsteen and those guys. The difference radicates on the intention, it’s not as pompous or magnificient and pure, he is ripping it instead.

Overall the album sounds super heavy, even with the jumpy leads all over the place. I recommend this to fans of modern death metal.

Rating: 9 out of 10