Album Review: Megascavanger – Toxic Noxious Undeath (Xtreem Music)

Rogga Johansson, the man of a thousand bands, has returned with his first Megascavenger album in six years. Called ‘Toxic Noxious Undeath’, this new slab of death metal will be released on August 13th, 2026, via Xtreem Music.

Toxic Noxious Undeath features an array of guest vocalists, a different one for every track, gathered together from Massacre, Crematory, Vomitory, Mercyless, Benediction, Thorium, Maceration, Fondlecorpse, Avulsed and Void Moon.

I’m a simple man. I see Rogga Johansson’s name, I press play. Confidently knowing that what I am going to hear isn’t just going to be a garish, guttural, riff-driven, blast of rancid noise, it’s going to be a brilliantly garish, guttural, riff-driven, blast of rancid death.

Guess what?

I love the idea of having a different vocalist for each track, and even though they all come from the world of death and extreme metal, there are several distinctive voices. Rogga Johansson’s talents mean he can play with just about anyone, and not only will he compliment them, but they will compliment him. Especially when the ‘oomph’ of the record comes from a strong backbone of bass and drums, courtesy of Johan Berglund and Thomas Ohlsson, respectively.

What a collection of stars we have here, truly. With the first half of the record featuring Kam Lee, who roars intensely across the furiously fun Graveyard Dreams And Bonehouse Screams. Felix Stass, who delivers guttural intensity on the head banger that is Corpses Below. Erik Rundqvist, whose deep growl helps make the manic energy of Exploding Casket Syndrome even more potent. Max Otero, whose rawer voice works in nice contrast to the guitar harmony of Heading For The Furnace, and Dave Ingram, who does what he does best on the chaotic A World Of Fire And Brimstone.

All this, while Rogga throws out riff after riff, solos like his life depends on it, and delivers some of the year’s best extreme metal hooks.

If you can’t find a single thing to like about the first half, you’re a lost cause I’m afraid, because I think this is one of the best death metal releases of the year, and that’s just based off the first half of the record.

The second half keeps the high gear in place as Fleshburner Yearner arrives in a cacophony of head banging, gurn inducing heaviness. Michael H. Andersen sounds bloody beastly here. Then there is As Purgatory Ascends, with Jan Bergmann Jepsen announcing himself via a belly-quivering roar. The drumming on this track is class too. One of my favourite tracks on the album overall.

The title track is next, and stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but it slays. I do find Silvester Koorevaar’s vocals are buried under a mountain of riffs, but it’s a minor complaint. Whereas Dave Rotten’s throaty grim growls dominate the crushing Shallow Grave Overflow. Probably the least interesting track, personally.

Finally, it’s one last heart racing, head banging, hellacious effort in the form of The Morbid Rides Again. A harsh and heavy explosion of delectable noise that has Peter Svensson threatening to rip faces off with his vocal delivery.

It’s been worth the wait. This is what happens when the cream of death and extreme metal come together. Helmed by one of metal’s most talented (and hard working) artists, and featuring a list of iconic vocalists, it is an album all fans of death metal should be checking out.

Megascavenger – Toxic Noxious Undeath Track Listing:

1. Graveyard Dreams and Bonehouse Screams
2. Corpses Below
3. Exploding Casket Syndrome
4. Heading For the Furnace
5. A World of Fire and Brimstone
6. Fleshburner Yearner
7. As Purgatory Ascends
8. Toxic Noxious Undeath
9. Shallow Grave Overflow
10. The Morbid Rides Again

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