Merlin - They Must Die (2000)

   The Russian death metal band Merlin formed in the early '90s, but it took for a while until they were able to record their debut album. The timing probably had a role why their music included both the old school and modern features of death metal the same timre.
   Their first album "Deathkoteque" sounded a bit chaotic and experimental, like if they were unsure how to mix the two styles. On "They Musy Die" things sounded more balanced. The measure of old school thrashing parts almost disappeared, the moden way of brutality had exclusive role, and the band returned with a very strong and heavy sound. The album has characteristic and catchy themes frequently interrupted by intense hammering. By the lyrics they approached gory and death related topics from a different and uncommon perspective, that is instead of listing or piling up the various events of horror, focused on their bare sickness. Very stunning and brutal female growls guiding the listener into the eastern depths freezing death. This was another reason why the band counted modern and extraordinary already at the beginning, and not only in Russia. Great quality and highly recommended material for the lovers of extreme aggression!