Unbounded Terror “Something is Rotten in Humanity”

Let’s start with the obvious this album title is awesome. Something is Rotten in Humanity instantly grabs your attention. Because let’s be real…we can all agree with that sentiment these days. It sets a dark, aggressive tone before you even hit play.

Now the music? Absolutely crushing. Heavy as a wrecking ball slamming through concrete. This isn’t some watered-down, modern take on death metal. It’s pure, traditional brutality that transports you straight back to when the genre ruled the ’90s. Just relentless heaviness that kept my body moving from track one to the final second. The guttural growls are filthy in the best way. Rotting and perfectly matched to the punishing instrumentals. It’s like they’ve resurrected that classic death metal grime while still keeping it fresh.

The album kicks off with “Fear of the Dying”, and let me tell you the tone, gutturals, and the instrumental assault come in hard. Right from the jump, you know you’re in for a ride. One thing I noticed is that the band doesn’t waste time. With most tracks launching into the next barrage of chaos immediately. But there are a few exceptions, like “Reviving”, “Divine Virtue”, and especially “The Evil Cause”. Which takes its time in building up. And honestly? That build-up works. I personally love when bands let the instrumentals breathe, before the vocals come in.

Speaking of instrumentals, the leads on this album are some of the best I’ve heard in a long time. There’s a sharp, almost surgical precision, in the guitar work that really elevates each track. The band, formed back in 1991 by Vicente J. Payá in Spain, clearly knows their craft. You can feel that old-school experience and passion bleeding through every riff and tone. 

My favorite track? “The Evil Cause”. It stood out immediately. The instrumental flow is unpredictable, tight, and weaving through wicked lead guitar runs. Switching tempos with the rhythm section in a way that keeps you on edge. It doesn’t rely on vocals to carry the emotion. It lets the music speak, and it speaks loud. I also really enjoyed “Revival”, which had a solid groove and energy that stood out.

If I had to be critical, I’d say the vocals could’ve been a little tighter in terms of synchronizing with the instrumentals in a few key parts. Outside of that, it’s a pretty solid album overall. The band is tight, flow is amazing, and the tone is consistent. Although in spots, the vocals just miss syncing up perfectly. It’s a small detail, but timing is key. Especially in a genre built on chaos that’s secretly very precise.

Overall, Something is Rotten in Humanity reminded me why I fell in love with death metal in the first place. It’s not trying to be trendy. They remind me of early pioneers of Death Metal with the likes of Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Morbid Angel, and countless others icons of the scene. It is definitely up to the standards and quality of where Death Metal was perfected. Low guttural vocals, crushing blast beats, intense rhythm and bass, and the way that the leads play a major role of the intensity and heaviness of this genre. The complexity of this album is purely amazing and will melt faces off for generations. This album is damn close to perfection, and I’ll be watching closely for what Unbounded Terror drops next.

SCORE: 4 / 5

You can purchase the album on the Xtreem Music Bandcamp. Pre-save the album on the band’s Spotify when it’s released