Spawn of Possession
Noctambulant
9
Synopsis:
Technical death metal mastery at its finest...
Review:
More technical death metal goodness following the likes of Anata, Psycroptic and the new Gorod from Sweden’s Spawn of Possession. While I enjoyed Cabinet, it was almost a mirror image of Psycroptic’s Scepter of the Ancients; amazingly complex virtuosity, with no real memorability, something Anata delivered with The Conductor’s Departure. For the follow up, however, SoP have managed to make each note count and each track deliver shimmering, dense complexity on a scale barely audible to the human ear.
Starting with the ominous orchestration of “Inception”, you get an immediate feeling that you are in for something special. I kid you not folks, with Noctambulant, SoP have somehow managed to mix the searing technicality of Psycroptic and the genuine recallability and song by song individuality of Anata and is arguably tied for first place of the three offerings I have reviewed, and should put Necrophagist on notice.
The thing with Noctambulant is that its dextrous consistency isn’t just showy. Though more angular than Anata’s fluid streams of consciousness, SoP’s riffs and vortex of squealing notes all fit into the whole, not just the random cacophony that some tech death metal sounds like. Throw in slivers of experimental breathers (“Inception”, “Scorched”), and the album flows with surprising clarity amid the heaving complexity.
Each track is essentially a standout template of skill and refined brutality as “Render My Prey”, “Eve of Contempt”, “By a Thousand Deaths Fulfilled” and “Scorched” are sheer forces of nature. Also unlike their peers, SoP have the ability to deliver a slower number, that while still jaggedly complex manages to come across as misleadingly simple, while still breathtakingly skilled (“Sour Flow”).
My only minor gripe, with what is essentially musical perfection is the virtually non existent bass. The drums are fine and there is low end, but the bass guitar is barely audible. However, that does little to change the fact that Noctambulant is an essential and perfect tech death metal purchase to flesh out this year's fine offerings in the genre.
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Spawn of PossessionIncurso
3/13/2012