ALBUM REVIEW: Deconsecrate – Ænigmatum
It can take a lot to stand out in the crowd of death metal bands. While each act can be technically proficient at their chosen instruments, to truly shine is what bands should be striving to achieve. Portland’s ÆNIGMATUM is one such band that has not just reached the lofty heights of their well-executed debut, but they’ve gone and punched through the ceiling.
The opening drums on the lead-off track Forged From Bedlam converge into an unrelenting barrage of noise, most notably fronted by a swirling riff married to frenetic bass playing and thundering growled vocals. It’s a statement of intent from the band that they’ve upped their game and the world needs to be put on notice. Throughout the eight-track assault, the band competently and expertly weave a tapestry of 90’s Gothenburg greatness with modern production and an unstoppable death metal drive that attacks all senses from all angles.
A major part of the groove that is channelled through Deconsecrate is brought to the forefront by bassist Brian Rush. The downright dirty bounce that is heard in Disenthralled showcases his talent individually and how well the bass plays off the guitars. The melodic section heard three quarters of the way through shows a playful side to the death metal on display and is a welcome break from the onslaught.
The pathways created from the birth of each track lead into unknown but curious locations. The piercing force of Larker, Sanguine Phantom features a bass break before heading into a somewhat uncomfortable groove before it eventually saunters home. It’s jarring but it piques your curiosity with the utmost importance. The drumming from Pierce Williams is technically brilliant, sonically pleasing and never feels overly outlandish for the sake and it. The production of the drums is masterful and gives off a real live feel to every blast and beat. Every instrument feels perfectly in sync with one another and there is no feeling of anyone being overpowered.
Fracturing Proclivity opens with a BEHEMOTH-sized black metal style riff before shattering into a frenetic barrage of riffs. Each track won’t let you feel comfortable for long before it pulls the rug from beneath your feet, but it’s more of a thrill of riding the world’s most brutal rollercoaster than plummeting to your demise. There’s beauty within the madness and it needs to be heard through a decent set of headphones to immerse yourself into the illusion. It’s a journey that can see you spiral through a passage of delirium and you’ll return feeling enlightened and no doubt inspired.
The guitar work throughout from Kelly McLaughlin and Eli Lundgren is top-notch, and features some blistering tremolo picking, most notably on closing epic Animus Reflection. In the closing moments, it winds down but you can still feel the desperate pull of each instrument stretching to that final hurdle.
On the surface, you may think that Deconsecrate doesn’t break the mould. It’s not an easy listen, but give it your time and dig deeper and you’ll find otherworldly musicianship within a sea of prog-tinged death metal that will most likely be a sleeper hit for the year.
Rating: 9/10
Deconsecrate is set for release on August 13th via 20 Buck Spin.
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