Deadform – Entrenched In Hell

The Oakland-based project Deadform features members with experience in bands like Dystopia, Stormcrow, and Laudanum. The trio of Dino Somesse, Judd Hawk, and Brian Clouse released a self-titled demo in 2022, and now present their debut full-length, Entrenched In Hell, through the esteemed Tankcrimes label, known for reissuing Dystopia’s classic discography. The album clearly draws on the spirit of the members’ previous bands, delivering a sludge metal/stenchcore/crust punk hybrid straight out of your worst nightmares—just as it should be.

Entrenched In Hell, with its organic, noisy metal/punk production, offers an excellent half-hour that recalls a very specific style. Across six tracks, the record channels the mythical sludge metal legacy of Dystopia, while moments like “The Exit” reveal intense British crust punk/stenchcore influences, resulting in a sound that’s both atmospheric and sharp. Distortion and torturous mid-tempos dominate, along with shared vocals that reek of despair. Deadform doesn’t hold back, painting stark pictures of destruction, futility, mortality, and decay.

On their first LP, the Californians sound apocalyptic, rhythmic, minimalistic, and focused. The opening track, “Of Plagues,” jumps straight into the action after a brief atmospheric intro. With epic, dramatic, yet concise riffing, it evokes a feeling of everything burning around you while maintaining a groovy undercurrent. Deadform brings their experience from the fringes of the metal/punk scene into these toxic chords. “As Above So Below,” with its sharp, suffocating leads and filthy basslines, stands out for its mix of theatricality and aggression.

Overall, tracks like “Peacekeeper,” shrouded in a gloomy aura, show that Deadform is at their best when creating atmospheres. Indeed, Entrenched In Hell—with its brutal Celtic Frost-inspired moments (and cover art paying homage to H.R. Giger’s work), its punk ferocity, and its crust-as-hell guitar tone—delivers a painful, violent, and grueling lesson. By the time the relentless “Fetid Breath” concludes, Deadform’s debut leaves behind a stenchcore aura of total devastation. The band’s metal/punk sound alternates between muddy sludge, death metal riffs, and a world shaped by Amebix, Axegrinder, and early Killing Joke.

A common thread throughout is a sense of balance. At no point do Deadform go overboard or sound undisciplined, even though their playing remains anarchic and structured, reminiscent of the early efforts of heirs like Thou. In their debut, the band continues a specific aspect of underground tradition, both local and global, without sounding outdated. As expected, Deadform’s approach doesn’t echo the modern post/sludge metal facets of the scene, nor does it aim to. Entrenched In Hell targets an audience raised on sociopolitical values and concepts immersed in harsh music, but it can also serve as an inviting gateway for younger listeners who appreciate similar sonic sources and aesthetics.