Five-headed Brazilian death metal horde Papa Necrose emerged from the promo sump with two strikes against them before Anthropomorphy Execution even began. First, if we were somehow living in an alternate metalverse where Ghost didn’t exist, then the name Papa Necrose might be passable. But we don’t. Instead, the name only evokes the theatrical imagery tied to Tobias Forge’s famous alter-ego. Second, the Saw‑meets‑Easter‑Island cover art is não é bom, feeling flat out undercooked. Put those surface issues aside, and you’ll find a record that soaks itself in classic 90s progressive death. The outcome of years of arduous development, Papa Necrose’s third LP once again turns its attention to the Catholic Church as its central target. However, rather than chasing reinvention, Anthropomorphy Execution embraces familiarity, seeking to recapture the qualities that have allowed this well-known strain of death to endure.
Anthropomorphy Execution wears its influences squarely on its sleeve: post Human‑era Death and early Pestilence are the clearest touchstones, with vocals that blend Obituary‑style guttural heft and Schuldiner‑like phrasing. There’s nothing here you haven’t heard before, but the performances are surprisingly astute. And it’s clear Papa Necrose has more than enough musical chops to pull off their homage. Danilo Vagner and Carlo Silva’s down‑picked, grinding riffs, Luquian Silva’s dynamic tom fills, and Eric Gusmão’s exploratory bass runs are executed with precision, coalescing into highlights like “Hammered in the Mind,” “Cathedral of Death,” and “Eighteen Years Awake.” Gusmão’s Sound of Perseverance-flavored breaks, along with the interplay between Vagner and Silva’s riffs and Silva’s fancy kit work, give the tracks plenty of groove to latch onto. James Murphy (Death, Obituary, Cancer) even shows up for a guest spot (“The Thousand Yard Gaze”). Talent-rich, but too obvious in their devotion, Papa Necrose seems comfortable being nothing less than an off-the-shelf clone of their heroes.
Anthropomorphy Execution’s biggest problems lie in its songwriting and overall cohesion. While the individual performances are competent, the sum rarely matches the quality of its parts, leaving Anthropomorphy Execution feeling clunky as a whole. Alessandro Necrose is a capable vocalist and effectively channels a John Tardy (Obituary) level of disgust, but a vocal mix that sits too far forward and drowns everything in delay undermines his delivery. His tendency to end his growls with an exaggerated gurgle (“Anthropomorphy Execution,” “Cathedral of Death,” “Disenchant Them”) doesn’t help matters and comes off as cheesy rather than heavy. Structurally, tracks tend to sprawl, with vocals that occasionally lag behind the instrumentation (“Fall, Die, and Break”), or overactive solos that crowd otherwise promising passages (“Disenchant Them”). And with a runtime of over 46 minutes, the album overstays its welcome by at least two songs.
While Papa Necrose lacks a distinct identity of their own, discerning musicality and a clear reverence for the classic progressive death sound produce some strong moments. “Fall, Die, and Break” is a straightforward track that leans on chunky, mid-paced riffs, fret-tapping fireworks, and dexterous drumming to establish a serviceable baseline for the record’s sound. It’s nothing special, but it demonstrates a functional grasp of structure and pacing. “Eighteen Years Awake,” “Hammered in the Mind,” and “Cathedral of Death” benefit from a sharper sense of momentum, finding Papa Necrose at their heaviest and most confident. Driven by syncopated bursts of technical shredding and frequent tempo shifts, the songs remain engaging throughout and largely sidestep the issues that drag down the rest of the record. “Anthropomorphy Execution” could have joined them as one of the record’s stronger cuts if not for its near‑lifted guitar harmony from Symbolic’s “Sacred Serenity.” To its credit, the song is one of the few moments where Papa Necrose attempts to break the mold, introducing added wrinkles like ceremonial-flavored motifs. Still, this occurrence isn’t enough to overcome the track’s mimicry, nor imbue the material with a sense of personality that gives it lasting appeal.
Papa Necrose is no doubt fluent in classic progressive death, but Anthropomorphy Execution rarely speaks in its own voice. Competently played and steeped in the right influences, the record leans too heavily on familiar tropes to ultimately feel essential. Until Papa Necrose tempers its devotion with a stronger sense of self, their work will continue to land as another well-executed homage in a genre already defined by far stronger voices.
Rating: Disappointing
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Awakening Records
Websites: awakeningrecordscn.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/papanecrosedm
Releases Worldwide: March 20th, 2026
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