ROTTEN COFFIN The Agony in Slumber CD

The 2022 album The Agony in Slumber by the Portuguese band Rotten Coffin is a significant contribution to the contemporary death metal landscape, representing the creative force of the underground scene in Funchal, Madeira Island. Originally released as a limited cassette through Escaravelho Records at the end of 2022, the album later saw a professional CD digipak edition via the same label in 2023, solidifying its presence as a landmark debut for the group. Musically, the record is a masterclass in "old school" worship, blending the raw aggression of the late 1980s Florida scene with the gloomier, melodic sensibilities of early European death/doom, resulting in a sound that feels both nostalgic and vital. The album is structured as a cohesive journey through eleven tracks, featuring an atmospheric Intro and Outro that frame the relentless assault of the core material. Songs such as Barren Landscapes, Looming Shades of Mind, and the crushing title track The Agony in Slumber showcase the band's ability to balance intricate, technical guitar work with cavernous, mid-tempo grooves. The project features the sharp riffing of Zé Rodrigues and Guilherme Abreu, complemented by the guttural, menacing vocals of the singer known as Devourer and the precise, high-speed drumming of renowned session musician Krzysztof Klingbein. With its organic production and lyrical themes focused on existential horror and spiritual desolation, The Agony in Slumber has established Rotten Coffin as one of the most prominent acts in the new wave of Portuguese extreme metal, proving that the traditional death metal spirit is still thriving in the Atlantic.