Philadelphia based death metallers Polterchrist are no newcomer to the scene having existed for almost a decade. The band is said to have made quite a name for themselves on the US underground scene due to countless concerts and a couple of demos. Now the band is finally ready with their debut Engulfed by the Swarm but somehow I find the result a little disappointing.

The band plays a not very imaginative brand of blackened death metal but as I've writing on several occasions it doesn't necessary have to be innovative to be good. However most of the songs on Engulfed by the Swarm doesn't seem that memorable and the only tracks that really stick out are the title track and "Desolate Paradise". The music itself is varied with plenty of breaks and tempo-shifts but also the vocals are fairly varied ranging from the usual deep growl over to black metal-like screams and even a few clean parts. It's very clear that the band has some cool ideas but despite of that the album never really seems to get past the mediocre and in any way capture the listener.