ALBUM REVIEW: Krypts – Cadaver Circulation

Here I review the third album from Finnish Death Metal titans KRYPTS, set for release via Dark Descent Records on May 31st. This should be a crushing one…

1. Sinking Transient Waters dives right in with blistering riffs and blastbeats that pack a hell of a punch with no introduction required. The cavernous vocal snarls over doomy yet high octane instrumentals soar through bars of absolutely ferocious old school Death Metal with catchy grooves and intricate hooks that are captivating and filled with aggression. Doomy sections soon drive out bellowing chords and slow beats that are monolithic in nature, with melancholy but still holding back a strong bite for the faster sections to reintroduce. There is a brief bit of shred work that sounds killer but does not get overused or break apart the gorgeous atmospherics of the track. The songwriting skills and instrumental work on this opening track are insane, as is the phenomenally grim vocal performance. An astonishing beginning.

2. The Reek of Loss sets off with pristine yet dissonant guitar work, chiming drums and a really gruesome, morbid atmosphere is conjured up pretty quickly. The slamming instrumentals soon build and descend back, like a tormented entity, afraid to fully expose itself. Soon enough churning, monolithic Death Metal lurches forth with a slow tempo riff pattern, huge vocals and tight drum work. There is a convulsive rhythm to the song that is hypnotic to me, exciting but also (in the best possible way) incredibly ugly. Upbeat thrashing grooves some come in to further the decimating effectiveness of the musical intensity, doing very well at bludgeoning us with a nicely varied mix of tempos. Another absolutely fantastic piece of music.

3. Echoes Emanate Forms draws in with eerie guitars, bleak soundscapes being created with the sombre riffs and slow pace drums. Strong melodic work makes a punch appearance rather unexpectedly, which I value both in terms of musicianship and unpredictability. There is a monstrous amount of weight from the instrumental section that delivers each heavy blow with crushing force, ready for the draw out guitars to reappear with some grisly snarls accompanying them. This song is nicely woven both in transitions of riff and also tempo, feeling smooth and truly building an intense momentum without being jarred in any parts. The terrifically tight musicianship and ferocious execution allows for the eeriness of this song to be captured perfectly by the macabre production style. Excellent work.

4. Mycelium bellows out doomy, dissonant guitar riffs and hammering drums with such force that the song immediately drags you into its morbid soundscape. Obliterating blows from the whole instrumental section are delivered with precision and grandiose skill, taking the atmospherics of the album even further and also utilising some stunning lead work which adds to the hypnotic effect. The demonic vocals are beautifully regurgitated over the grinding backdrop of ferocious drums and menacing guitars. This piece is quite a bit shorter than the others, but no less effective. Wonderful.

5. Vanishing follows up with chillingly built in guitar, a haunting sounds permeating the mix as the tension grows. Sure enough the full force of the drums and guitars combined is soon barraging us with mid-tempo, punchy riffs and drawn out, suspenseful melodic guitar work with pounding drums punctuating every note. Some of the fastest instrumental work is soon introduced with an insanely impressive drum performance and discordantly hellish riffing before dropping back into more doomy territories with sparse ambience. The intimidating suspense and crushing musicianship is unrelenting, with even the more mellow sections sounding truly unnerving. This piece, while decimating, is also sombre and feels forlorn but in a way that holds the strength of the album and does not falter. A gorgeously put together track with minimalist yet effective vocal use and mesmerising instrumental work.

6. Circling the Between brings in the ending of the album sadly, although I am sure this final track will not disappoint. Crashing cymbals and doomy guitar riffs build in the momentum for one monstrous last assault. There is an epically powerful lethargy in the crawling riffs but also some intricate timing use that keeps you on your toes, preventing the song from becoming repetitive very well. Chilling lead guitars build in the storming verses that ferociously drive through morbid instrumentals and hideously harsh vocals, penetrating every aspect of the music with anguish and aggression from all angles. A truly cavernous and masterful ending to the album that utilises the full atmospheric skills of the band, their instrumental talents and also plenty of raw energy. There is some cool Black Metal vibes in some of the snarls over cataclysmic riffing that is really completed by the intricacies of the drum fills to make a volatile and monstrously brutal final song. Utterly phenomenal, a brilliant ending to an unforgettable album.

This epitome of atmospheric violence was both profound and barbaric. With intense riff-craft, perfectly varied drum beats, cavernously bellowed growls and a truly murky production, we are given the whole old school Death Metal / Death-Doom package. This should be an essential listen for all Death Metal fans (like any Dark Descent release). -9/10