The name Denial Fiend may not be that familiar to many and the very mention of their name is likely to be meet with a blank look and the retort, “who”? The names of Kam Lee, Terry Butler and Curt Beeson should however bring more than just a glimmer of recognition to the eye, or at least it should to the Death Metal fans out it should. With the likes of Death, Massacre, Mantis, Six Feet Under and Nasty Savage adoring their collective résumés the ranks of Denial Fiend are cram packed with a who’s who of Death Metal over the past twenty years, so be ignorant to the name Denial Fiend no longer.

You may well be asking why I’m telling you all this? The reason of course is that this collection of greats from way back in the day have brought to life their latest incarnation of gore splattered Death in the shape of their debut album “They Rise”. Kam Lee, despite a lengthy lay off since the demise of Massacre has lost none of his vocal prowess or his ability to pen a truly blistering Death Metal tune. More from the book of the Misfit’s influenced B movie horror with a hint of tough in cheek humour is the reoccurring theme running throughout the album, rather than the ultra real gore splattered fodder we’ve become accustomed too form the likes of Cannibal Corpse and alike.

“They Rise” offers up hook after hook of catchy riffs, engulfing you in a barrage of Death Metal splendour, from the insanely titled “Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon” to the now prehistoric yet still brilliant 1983 Mantis ditty “L.O.D”, which only seems to get better with age. It is of course easy to get caught up on a wave of nostalgia when it comes to Kam Lee and all he has done for Death Metal, getting all misty eyed for the good old days and forgetting to actually recognise Denial Fiend as an entity in their own right; but hey this is Kam Lee after all and this is easier said than done. The cliqued over the top splatter ‘n’ gore works so well with the totally old school riffs Sam Williams has produced; tipping his hat to all that has gone before, and before the genre became all to serious and disappeared up it’s own a33hole. In fact “They Rise” should come with a guarantee total gore fun fulfillment or your money back.