The band name doesn't exactly spell out brutal US death metal in the vein of Gorgasm, Deeds of Flesh, Severed Savoir, and Suffocation, never the less this is exactly what these Spanish death metallers play. Formed in 1998 Gathering Darkness started out as a death, doom band [that explains the name], but then changed to a more brutal musical direction. Beholders of the Pain Planet draws a lot on the styles from the bands I mentioned above and sure it doesn't leave much to the imagination, but it doesn't exactly make the music any less interesting because of that. The songs are for the most fast with the obligatory blastbeat and grind parts, but does occasionally [or should I say regularly] shift into a slower and even heavier mood which of course adds a bit of diversity.

The music is as you've already guessed savagely brutal, but still fairly varied. A thing that struck me though was the lack of solos, there are a few, but they seem a bit anonymous and too far between, however, when they do pop up they add some needed diversity. The production is fairly clear, yet full and punchy. It goes well in hand with music. As I wrote earlier there's really no surprises on the album, just fast straight forward brutal death metal without the big moves, but it's an album that can stand several listens without get warn out. Fans of death metal and in particularly the brutal kind can safely pick this album up.