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Swedish death metal masters Tormented return with Death Awaits, their first full-length since their debut album, Rotten Death, in 2009. While the band has kept busy in the time between, releasing both a split single with Bombs of Hades in 2011 and the Graveyard Lust EP in 2012, Death Awaits is a more fully realized slab of punishing death metal, with vocalist/guitarist Andreas Axelson's vocals relatively clear in the mix, heightening the focus of the heavy production instead of opting for a lo-fi growl. Songs like "Blood Orgy," "Black Sky," and the brutal title track all show Tormented in top form as dyed-in-the-wool death metal disciples, focusing on misery, gore, and almost horror movie levels of violence and metallic dread. ~ Fred Thomas
