The debut from London/Berlin speed-thrash unit Dungeon, Into the Ruins is a relentless burst of D-beat-driven metalpunk aggression. Blending venomous ‘80s thrash, crust punk energy, and extreme metal influences into five raw, high-intensity tracks recorded in a live, bunker-like setting.
For fans of: Sodom, Morbid Angel, Anti Cimex, Venom, Mercyful Fate, raw speed/thrash & D-beat metal
Originally formed in London, DUNGEON began their speed-thrash D-beat conquest with an aptly titled demo, Unholy Speed Attack, in 2015. A year later came the English Hell demo, released by the respected Me Saco Un Ojo Records. DUNGEON teamed up with Me Saco Un Ojo again for the release Purifying Fire mini-album in 2018, hitting a fever pitch in intensity and personality.
Now, a long five years after that last record, the hellions of DUNGEON return with another mini-album, and their most defining statement of metalpunk aggression: Into the Ruins. This MLP was recorded live over a sordid weekend in a damp Berlin bunker by engineer Max Hillebrand (Vasseur, Children) in September 2022. Featuring five filthy tracks across 22 minutes, Into the Ruins sees DUNGEON dig deeper into destruction, with evermore extreme influences bleeding into their sound. Their berserker energies summon Sodom and violent ‘80s thrash as well as Morbid Angel, Mercyful Fate, and Raped Ass-era Anti Cimex among other aural terrors, all merging into DUNGEON’s signature explosive sound. The Venom/Discharge/Priestfoundation is still present, but warped and perverted to an even greater degree.
Into the Ruins is no doubt the work of one, all-pistons-pumping unit, but individual performances are worth noting for their contribution to the black (w)hole. DUNGEON master Luke Drew (ex-Ekrixi) has become an unstoppable force of demented musical wizardy, his songwriting reaching new heights over 2020’s lockdown. Six-string sadist Daragh Markham (Inhuman Nature, Who Cares?) brings his most spiteful guitar attacks to date. Olivia Airey (Maggot Heart, Raze) proves why she is one of the most sought-after players in the underground, with a filthy and undeniable presence throughout the MLP. And skin-smasher Chris Parker (Venomwolf) holds these shreds of sanity together with his uncanny instinct for barbaric flair. With Hillebrand at the helm, the full spectrum assault of DUNGEON’s chaotic, destructive, and notorious live shows has been fully harnessed and unleashed across this recording, resulting in five raw blasts of heavy D-beat metal savagery. A fitting score for the imminent collapse of civilization, DUNGEON give you a glimpse Into the Ruins…
