More than 20 years into their existence, San Francisco gore-metal gods Exhumed returned with Necrocracy, their first album since 2011's long-awaited All Guts, No Glory.

The group remains true to their signature sound of brutal death metal incorporating humorously over-the-top lyrics about horrific scenes both gory and political.

The albums nine tracks loom with as much strength and frenzy as any other period of the group's lengthy run, with highlights like the gnarled title track and "The Shape of Deaths to Come" showcasing Exhumed's penchant for unexpected breakdowns and an underlying sense of groove.