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Norway is known worldwide for its high profile Black Metal scene and it will likely stay that way for years to come, until some comet comes from outer space and kills everyone on the face of the Earth (amen to that, in advance. Rest in ashes, folks).

Repulsive Aggression is yet another new name in Norwegian Metal, but in the Death Metal scene instead of the Black. Repulsive Aggression doesn't completely shun their Black Metal roots, however. The band was formed by guitarist Saether (Svarttjern, Bloodspawn) and vocalist Holter (ex-Svarttjern) in Oslo, Norway in 2008, so the Black Metal connection is there, but Repulsive Aggression is an almost completely different musical entity. Behind the drums is Magnus Nødset (Frails Grounds, Framferd, etc.) plus a guy named Erik Unsgaard (Sarkom, So Much For Nothing) makes a guest appearance on Conflagration, the band's debut.

This Norwegian trio mixes old school Death Metal with progressive Thrash Metal influences quite successfully, spicing their brew with Holter's dry vocals that are closer to Black Metal snarls than Death Metal growls. Their songs operate on the trickier side of old school Death Metal in which slices of progressive Thrash Metal are blended in creating a sound that really isn't typical or often heard. This stuff is very organic and catchy as hell, managing to avoid falling into the bottomless pit of over-produced and sterile Metal records. Saether's powerful, heavy and sharp riffs play the main role in the band's songs, dominating how the songs flow.

Conflagration is a solid release for those who are looking for old school Death Metal with progressive Thrash elements mixed in. It worked for me and I'll bet it will work for some of you, as well. Try this.