ALBUM REVIEW: Catastrophic Reconfiguration – Molder
A couple of years have passed and a tighter, more refined MOLDER have returned. Sophomore album, Engrossed In Decay was a strong offering of trashy old school death metal. Now, their third full-length album Catastrophic Reconfiguration takes the band to new heights. Perhaps down to intense touring, bringing a greater coherence within the band or the new dynamic guitarist, Carlos Santini, brings to the fold. Whatever the reason, the record delivers a hefty bite.
In the first minute, you can tell Catastrophic Reconfiguration is going to be a conveyor belt of riffs. As with the last record, the influences of AUTOPSY and OBITUARY linger, but are fused in such a way that MOLDER still retain their uniqueness. Each track packs a monumental punch, but it’s the shortest track on the record, Overdue Burial, that takes the crown. Catchy, singable, guitar hooks intertwine with the fibres of your brain, pairing perfectly with vocalist Aaren Pantke‘s horrific shrieks. This is a track that’s bound to have arms flying and heads bouncing.
It’s not just high velocity, feral rippers that MOLDER execute well. The low ends in Catastrophic Reconfiguration are just as grotesque. The trudging in Bursted Innards is so violent it’s an assault to the ears and the basslines in Pulped and Nothing Left To Ooze are thick enough to make your tummy hurt. Yet, under all the grit and nastiness, the record is rammed with groove. Slowing down the speed allows a spotlight to shine on the bass, peeking out through intricately woven guitars, leaving you eager to encounter its prowess again.
Riffs and heavy lashings aside, it’s the passion and production that accelerates the album. Swapping the studio for basements, the DIY approach to recording allows the record to ooze with confidence and comfortability as well as adding a vigorous rawness. In comparison to their earlier releases, their latest cut seems more polished. Ten tracks in less than forty minutes is an attention deficit dream. As a whole, Catastrophic Reconfiguration is loaded with freshness and offers so much variance for a band that sits pretty firmly in a genre. There’s no space to be bored when you’re being launched into a cacophony of belligerence.
In short, Catastrophic Reconfiguration is old school death metal done right. MOLDER have captured the essence, the d-beats, the blistering riffs and spat out their own modern take. It can be a battle to stand out in an oversaturated genre such as death metal, bands placing a heavy reliance on gimmicks or attempts to “push the boundaries”. But, for some, like MOLDER, you don’t need all those added extras to make a solid album. This is their best work so far, on par with many exceptional releases from this year and a firm contender for many albums of the year lists.
Rating: 8/10
Catastrophic Reconfiguration is out now via Prosthetic Records.
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