A raw, visceral energy with an urban atmosphere.

After a short interval following their last EP, Auditory Anguish returns with their latest release, AFA, available since mid-fall of 2025. They have been a recent component of California’s underground crossover death metal scene since 2023. Additionally, Auditory Anguish pairs sludge-infused guitar tones with hostile, primal vocals to build a gritty, urban atmosphere that is prevalent in the album, AFA, which is just around eleven minutes in length.

In regards to Auditory Anguish’s members, David Montez, the vocalist, leads the charge on the microphone and acts as the primary spokesman of the band. Apart from David, Auditory Anguish functions as a cohesive four-piece unit with each member bringing their own flair to the songwriting on AFA. The remainder of the band (known by their first names only) includes Diego on guitar, Goat on bass and Abe on drums. Moreover, Auditory Anguish’s influences range from the speed of Slayer to the heaviness of Xibalba, creating a volatile crossover sound that is evident throughout the EP’s duration.

Starting with track two, “Chained to a Hole” is a granular assault defined by its rhythmic foundation and high-pitched guitar squeals. Furthermore, the aggressive instrumentation creates a distinctive contrast, layering rapid percussion with abrasive guitar work. Over this savage backdrop, the vocals remain consistently hostile, ensuring the intensity never dips throughout the song’s tight two-minute runtime.

Track four, “Tierra Santa,” has a sound that is viciously jagged, powered by heavy vocals, especially the menacing low growl. In addition, the overall pace is heavy and fast, only yielding to a deliberate slow tempo at its conclusion. The contribution from Tzompantli was an essential element in maximizing the track’s hostile auditory assault.

The fifth song on the album, “Unrelenting Blade,” utilizes a drastic dynamic shift, beginning with a brief, soft melodic passage before transitioning violently into a barrage of heavy distortion. The track progresses with a primal, enraged vocal assault set against the calculated anarchy of the guitar performance. Additionally, the song has a unique, minute-long segment where the instrumentation recedes at the two-minute mark, enabling the guitar to trudge heavily, soon morphing into atmospheric squeals that linger over the continuous, thick momentum of the bass and drums.

In the final analysis, there is a raw, visceral energy to AFA and even with the brevity of the release, there is a promising snapshot of a band with distinct influences. Yet, it appears Auditory Anguish is still in the nascent stages of defining their definitive death metal style. As far as the future is concerned, a shift towards refining song development could promise a significantly improved and even more imposing follow-up album.