ALBUM REVIEW: Mephitic – Ahtme

Hailing from Kansas City, tech-death demons AHTME return with their sophomore record under their new moniker. Formally known as The Roman Holiday, AHTME were reincarnated in 2018 with the heavy-hitting Sewerborn. This album turned a few heads in the technical death metal scene and put the band firmly on the map.

Mephitic sees the guys following on from their rebirth, utilising their unmatched musicianship, lightning-fast riffs and killer grooves to create a more focused effort than their 2018 predecessor. Its ability to stay grounded in the midst of its technical prowess allows the band to stay accessible but keep their attack razor-sharp throughout.

Swarm of Fools opens with its blistering riff attacking your senses before eventually breaking into a thundering groove, while Putrid Perforation hits you with the kind of filth you’d expect from the likes of ABORTED or DECAPITATED. Sharp stabbing riffs dual with the drums in a battle of technical ability but with one another showing the upmost respect for each others craft.

Third track Node is where things start to get really interesting. Its twists and turns batter you in a storm of riffs and juddering rhythms. A killer solo dances through the carnage, one of many that shine throughout the album. The vocals that open Dent remind us of Travis Ryan from CATTLE DECAPITATION but sadly doesn’t have anywhere near the range. While the vocals are ear shredding and urgent, there is a lack of variety in the delivery which would have been a welcome addition. The groove showcased on this track makes for some huge headbanging moments built especially for the pits. Mephitic is constantly crushing but unapologetically melodic throughout.

Hair Of The Hog features some cleanly picked moments of serenity before rapidly blasting back into the chaos, while No Stone Scarred features some slightly slower chugging riffs which feel meaty with some real weight behind them. No song showcases the talent the band possess more than Valley Of The Gourd. It’s rapid quick picking sections with the relentless rhythms rumbling alongside makes for a standout moment on the album. It leads into the final track, Devourment Empowerment that unleashes the band’s ferocity once more before ending in a crescendo that fades to let the listener take a deep breath and take in all of the tech-death delights they have just ingested. It’s an album that doesn’t let up for one moment, piling on its pummelling clamour from the off and doesn’t let go of you until it’s closing moments. Any longer than it’s 37-minute runtime and Mephitic may outstay it’s welcome like Sewerborn before it. However, this time around it’s the perfect length for the band to showcase their talents before things start to become stale.

The album borrows a lot from early 00’s death metal but adds a 2020 polish to the mix. The onslaught to the ears is a pleasing one, as while every instrument is cranked it never feels overwhelming or jarring. Mephitic is a fun tech-death album that leans more into its groove than it’s blast beats but is all the better for it. While it doesn’t break any new ground it’s a solid slab of powerhouse death metal presented a bunch of guys with stellar musicianship that will fit perfectly into a tech death fan’s playlist.

Rating: 8/10

Mephitic is set for release on July 24th via Unique Leader Records.

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