Twenty-one years ago this month Tampa’s Brutality released When The Sky Turns Black. The death metal scene would also see albums from genre mainstays Obituary and Cannibal Corpse, to name just a couple, so if this one slipped past your radar screen, you’re not alone. It took me years to catch on to what this band was doing—quietly pushing boundaries with a unique, almost Gorguts-like sound and approach to song-craft. With this #tbt, I’m going to take a look back at my favorite track off the album, “Artistic Butchery.”

Even at just a little over five minutes, this track’s relentless pacing and chord shifts make it feel like a marathon. One look at the lyric sheet and it lays out like a magazine article, describing a subject or subjects who take artistic liberties with their victims—much like the band does with the song. It’s a classic slice of ’90s death metal, injected with high-pitched guitar squeals, drum blasts, growled vocals and a deep, hefty bass sound.

What sets this apart from the pack to me is the progressive sounding chords near the end. After a quick, highlight solo, they dive deep into a thick, slow bridge, then return to the pure aggression of the earlier parts of the song without ever skipping a step. Of course it helps that it’s covered in the dirty tone that was so prevalent with the Tampa sound. This track holds up as well today as it did two decades ago, and really gives the genre heavyweights a run for their money. Take a listen for yourself below.

-Josh