Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Feral (Sweden)

Feral (Death Metal // Sweden)

Formed in the small Northern Swedish town of Norsjö in late 2003 by vocalist David Nilsson and bassist Viktor Eriksson. Feral later relocated to the nearby town of Skellefteå and formed a full line-up along with guitarist Petter Nilsson and drummer Rickard Lundmark before eventually rounding out their roster with the addition of guitarist Markus Lindahl. With the lineup complete, the band soon began writing and performing around their native Sweden.

Soon thereafter, Feral began recording demos and playing some very high-profile gigs, including a month long European tour with death metal legends Master in February of 2009 and a mini-tour with Six Feet Under in September of the same year. In between these tours, Feral returned to the studio to record the highly acclaimed »Welcome To The Graveyard« demo, which caught the attention of Ibex Moon Records’ owner, John McEntee, who signed the band to his label late last year.

With this lineup, a firm and strong sound, and all the determination in the world, the group recording their debut full-length, »Dragged To The Altar«, in 2010 . Which was released on April 26th, 2011 via Ibex Moon Records.

The release of the debut album was followed by a European tour along with the Swedish death metal band, Demonical, and supported by Gloria Morti and Arroganz.

Writing on the album to follow the debut was begun immediately after returning from the tour. But the recoring of the album was delayed due to line-up changes when Rickard Lundmark and Petter Nilsson left the band to pursue other interest after having recorded the song for »The Deathkult EP«, a split EP along with German death metal band, Revel In Flesh, released though Joe Black Records.

The band was later joined by ex-Armagedda drummer, Roger Markström, and Markus continued as the sole guitarist and the recording process for the next album could be started. The new album »Where Dead Dreams Dwell« was released in May 2015 though Cyclone Empire followed by the EP/mini album »From The Mortuary« in December 2016.

In July 2017 Feral announced their signing to Transcending Obscurity Records and started work recording their third album soon after having been re-joined by guitarist Sebastian Lejon. »Flesh For Funerals Eternal« was released in late December 2019.

Courtesy of Transcending Obscurity Records:

Swedish axe-wielding death metal marauders Feral proclaimed their rights to the throne with a potent split last year with crust-ridden death metal label mates Crawl. And as promised, they launched a massive, comprehensive onslaught the following year to eliminate all competition in the Swedish death metal realm. Those familiar with their legend know their humongous heft and power but what’s also notable about them is their penchant for writing detailed and highly structured songs, more so than most bands of their ilk. This is death metal that looks, sounds and feels as if it’s played by real savage Vikings but it is also wisely written, backed with nearly two decades of skull-crushing experience.

Musically they not only honour the ancient Nordic gods the traditional way but also skillfully assimilate influences of the darker, filthier bands from across the ocean like Autopsy into their sound and solidify it many times over. The result is an insurmountable wall of sound that not only overwhelms and conquers but also makes room for tantalizing solos, menacing slower passages, and of course, the neck-snapping groovy parts. With »To Usurp The Thrones«, Feral have once again showed why they’re the irrefutable contenders to the Swedish death metal throne and have delivered one of the most accomplished albums in the style in recent times.

Pre-order »To Usurp The Thrones« here:
Bandcamp | US Store | EU Store

Discography:
• »Graverobber« Demo (2007)
• »Welcome To The Graveyard« Demo (2009)
• »Dragged To The Altar« LP (Ibex Moon Records, 2011)
• »Inhumation Ceremony« Single (2012)
• »The Deathkult EP« Split (Joe Black Records, 2014)
• »Where Dead Dreams Dwell« LP (Cyclone Empire, 2015)
• »From The Mortuary« EP (Cyclone Empire, 2016)
• »Flesh For Funerals Eternal« (Transcending Obscurity Records, 2018)
• »Made As Those Who Are No Longer Alive« Split (Transcending Obscurity Records, 2023)
• »To Usurp The Thrones« LP (Transcending Obscurity Records, 2024)

Feral is:
David Nilsson – Vocals
Markus Lindahl – Guitar
Sebastian Lejon – Guitar
Viktor Klingstedt – Bass
Roger Markstorm – Drums

For fans of Dismember, Carnage, Entombed, Autopsy, Fleshcrawl, Entrails, Bloodbath, Grave

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well

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