ALBUM REVIEW: Jord – Soreption
Tech death is a genre based on machine-like precision and patterns, so it only seems right that Swedish stalwarts SOREPTION continue their four-yearly release schedule with Jord, their fourth full-length album. Since forming in 2005, they’ve put out records in 2010, 2014 and 2018, all to critical acclaim (we gave their last offering Monument Of The End 9/10 on release). Fans will be pleased to hear then, that Jord continues yet another trend for the trio.
No strangers to line-up changes, the trimmed down trio now consists of original members Fredrik Söderberg on vocals, Tony Westermark on drums and Rickard Persson on bass. Having parted ways with their guitarist last year, they have opted for a host of guest guitarists throughout Jord. The result is a seemingly odd one for a genre that puts so much emphasis on lead guitar virtuosity; instead the focus is on the rhythm section, which only serves to heighten the precision of it all. The guest guitar spots are monumentally impressive though without taking over, instead complimenting the core band members with short solos or accents throughout proceedings.
With the likes of ARCHSPIRE‘s Dean Lamb and Tobi Morelli, THANOPRAXIA‘s Ian Waye, and Joe Haley of PSYCROPTIC plying their trade, it’s a veritable who’s who of technical death legends, all coming together to elevate the genre through the scene’s latest bright hope. The Forever Born features a stunning little solo that only lasts a matter of seconds, but it provides a perfect little bridge to a closing third that seeks to absolutely crush anything and everything. The Chasm contains perfect pockets of short, sharp guitar bursts that would be sorely missed if left out completely, and messy if built on more. For SOREPTION, less is bizarrely more on a record that throws everything at the listener.
There are also orchestral, almost melodeath elements that punctuate the record, allowing SOREPTION to flex their impressive musical muscles further still. It’s these moments that really allow the likes of Prophet and The Nether Realm’s Machine – and indeed, the listener – to breathe; a brief respite from the inescapable intensity is important on a record like this because it gives it that extra texture and prevents us as listeners from burning out. It also proves that even the most extreme genres can be beautiful in some measure.
But as important as these moments are, SOREPTION undeniably excel most of all when they opt for that all-out aural assault. Each Death More Hollow is staggering in its scope and will leave you breathless under the punishing pummelling and Söderberg‘s relentlessly grotesque, machine gun vocal delivery. Död Jord ends the record in frenetic fashion, and those final vocal repetitions are utterly spine-tingling. It’s a heaviness that will make your head spin.
Zipping by in a mere 31 minutes, Jord is not a record that messes around. Characteristically efficient and unyielding in its continuous movement, that half hour feels just half its length. Utterly clinical and technically astounding throughout, SOREPTION have shown once again that they’re coming for the tech death crown.
Rating: 8/10
Jord is out now via Unique Leader Records.
Like SOREPTION on Facebook.