The Summary Judgment Reviews:
Title: Masters of Moral - Servants of Sin
Artist: Pungent Stench
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 1/22/02

Rating: 3 Skulls
  • Official Web Site for This Artist
  • Discuss on the Metal Judgment Web Board
  • Submit/Read Reader Reviews of this Album

    • Reviewed by Requiem (1/17/02):
    Let me tell you, it's been a long time since I've heard Pungent Stench. In fact, it must be almost 10 years since I've listened to the classic Been Caught Buttering. Subsequent albums didn't do much for me and in '95 they disbanded. To everyone's surprise Pungent Stench are back. Who the fuck is Pungent Stench?, you ask. Well, they've been creating lyrically sick and humorous death metal while many current day death thrashers were still on training wheels. The new album Masters of Moral Servants of Sin is a well tuned and tightened version of the Pungent Stench we once knew.

    At first I thought I was going crazy because this advanced version only contains three full tracks, the rest fade out after a minute or so. There I was thinking something was wrong with my car stereo for the past week! All I had to do is look at the cover, which explains the whole ordeal. I find it rather annoying personally, but maybe they are hoping us journalist freeloaders will go out and buy the album. But besides the answer to such a curious question, let's get on with my interpretation of the album, what I have of it anyway. Shall we?

    I'm actually surprised it's the same band, to tell you the truth. The three full tunes offered on the disc are at least twice as fast and precise as their past efforts. The sound is much more polished than the Been Caught Buttering era and is portrayed in a more serious manner musically than the past. Instead of the raw and loose feel of the past, they have incorporated a more precision start/stop on a dime nature with double bass like you could read about and an almost Morbid Angel feel to the tunes, especially on "School's Out Forever." Mixed in for contrast and style is a rock and roll-y, yet fast but fun vibe. The one discernable feature of the past are the vocals. However, present still are the ridiculous and controversial lyrics of the past. If the album comes complete with lyrics, you'll be rolling on the floor in laughter or shocked at the lyrical content and sick mindset of this death metal 3-piece. Don't say I didn't warn you.

    It's good to see that a seven-or-so-year break will bring a band back into tiptop shape. Pungent Stench 2002 has a Soilent Green meets Morbid Angel sound and a Cannibal Corpse meets S.O.D. lyrical personality. Those of you who are familiar with the band's past will envy their new and improved sound, while those of you who have never heard of em can finally discover one of death metal's best kept secrets. Discover the sick rock and roll death metal splatter of Pungent Stench with quite possibly their best album yet.
    3 out of 5

    [- Metal Judgment Home -]    [- Email Metal Judgment -]
    ©1999 Metal Judgment. All rights reserved.