The second album of Lovecraftian Death Metallers ULTHAR is here, promising cosmic extremity and breaking boundaries. Set for release via 20 Buck Spin on June 12th.
Dissonant riffs and blastbeats tear into the fabric of reality with vicious vocals to create a superbly visceral onslaught from the very onset of the record. Convulsing with cosmic energy, Ulthar are back with the full energy and excellence of their debut album “Cosmovore”. The cavernous and sparse soundscapes generated from the fantastically discordant Death Metal is utterly astounding with such a furious assault of the senses that is truly unique and stupefyingly heavy. Interluding acoustic guitars add more texture to the record before bellowing extremity continues to rupture with the presence of the outer ones.
As with the first album, this one has a monstrously abrasive use of cascading guitars, drums and vocals to conjure something otherworldly and supremely intense. The blackened touches to the Death Metal are definitely suitably with the dissonance of the riffing. A monolith of instrumental excellence ensues. Hammering drums and unhinged guitars continue to be the foundation of the record which stomps forth alongside some maniacal vocal work. There is nothing present on the album that doesn’t feel incredibly well thought out and purposeful with endless nuances concocting a patchwork of Lovecraftian mysteries.
With a suitably clear production allowing all of these nuances to be heard with clarity but presented to feel much more murky, the balance has been absolutely nailed to fit just how magnificent the album is in all of its complexity. Ulthar have such a riveting and captivating way of stringing their songs together that is inescapable, leaving all whom hear it in ecstatic convulsions, it is wonderful to see nothing has been lost in the interim between albums. Spectral and destructive barbarity of the highest order. The doomy sections add a further dimension to draw out on the eerie side of the record while the viciously faster sections keep the frenzied momentum, never stagnating and always progressing with a natural liveliness.
This album is a huge sounding piece of Lovecraftian Death Metal excellence that is packed with oddities and estranged ideas that definitely set Ulthar apart from the crowd once again. While this cavernous sound will appeal to lovers of Death Metal, it is clearly not some run-of-the-mill Incantation worship, Ulthar have something completely of their own going that may draw on the likes of Demilich but never truly crosses into anyone else’s territory, preferring to transport us into the cosmos via their own means. An impeccable follow-up and mind-blowing record. Feel the might of “Providence”, lest you miss out on some of the most memorable and disturbing Death Metal to grace us this year. -9/10
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