ALBUM REVIEW: Gravitas Maximus – Pyrexia

New York based death metal merchants PYREXIA have been on the scene for multiple decades and have become one of the most revered extreme metal outfits in the business. Three years have passed since the release of their previous effort, Unholy Requiem, and it’s now time to prepare your senses to be violated once again as Gravitas Maximus makes its arrival on December 10th via Unique Leader Records. Will this effort mark another high point of their legendary career?

We Are Many begins with the chilling nostalgia of an iconic scene from The Exorcist which ushers in a wave of crushing riff work and devastating blast beats. The guttural onslaught which follows gets this release off to a violent, remorseless start. Apostles To The Grave immediately resumes the bludgeoning. Slam-infused guitar tones assault your senses, but at times almost play second fiddle to the barbaric drum beats. The Day The Earth Shook (Survival Of The Fittest) throws you off guard with a hip-hop style beat before snapping straight back into the carnage. Enticing grooves and potent shredding continue to hit like a sledgehammer.

Pawn To King allows for zero breathing space as it delves headfirst into another round of pummelling. Surging instrumentation is rapidly unleashed but PYREXIA keep you on your toes, switching up the tempo at a moment’s notice. Art Of Infamy injects an ominous atmosphere that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention. The savage drum work instantly amplifies the destructive demeanour, and the blood-curdling chainsaw sounds also help play their part. Rule Of 2 persists in rattling your bones in brutal fashion as roaring growls perfectly accompany the savagery.

Bludgeoned By Deformity keeps the wrecking ball swinging with its energetic tempo and refusal to cease battering you with blast beats. Infectious riffing is reeled off with impeccable precision. Title track and album closer Gravitas Maximus is utterly monstrous. Evil, gloomy riffing leads the charge as it combines with vicious vocal barrages.

Whilst what PYREXIA brings to the table is by no means revolutionary, sometimes you just can’t beat having your head caved in by unrelenting musicianship. Gravitas Maximus maintains the core ideals which have brought this band so much notoriety over the course of their hefty career and is a solid release that deserves to be applauded.

Rating: 8/10 

Gravitas Maximus is set for release on December 10th via Unique Leader Records

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