ALBUM REVIEW: Puteraeon – The Cthulhian Pulse: Call from the Dead City

Eldritch Swedish Death Metallers PUTERAEON are back with their 4th album of Lovecraftian brutality. Out now via Emanzipation Productions.

Creepy samples set in before a ruthless chugging of HM-2 riffs and pounded drums build a crushing monolith of pure Swedeath might, this is going to be a heavy one. Spectral leads soar over the battery of rhythmic barbarism as the convulsions of extremity warp into a fearsome and atmospheric murk. Dissonance and chiming drums breaks up the traditional Swedish Death Metal with a uniquely sparse approach so when the vocals join, we get a devastating and memorable delivery of ferocity. Delving further into the putrid and violent Lovecraftian Death Metal, we see brutality and atmospheric skill conjured by some truly killer musicianship. An otherworldly and eerie concoction of malevolence that will hopefully be consistent throughout the whole record because this beginning was something special.

Rampaging forth, the haunting nature of the music does not decline, nor does the carnage that ensues with a storm of wickedly tight drums, monstrous guitars and hideously raspy vocals. Blending the likes of traditional Swedeath titan such as Grave and Dismember with touches of Morbid Angel, Shub Niggurath and adding a doomy element gives Puteraeon quite a unique sound while the old school spirit is present in abundance as the cascading horrors from beyond come to life on this nightmarish and decimating slab of pure malice. There is a truly gorgeous way in which these Swedish savages break their songs down before rebuilding a huge and immovably heavy soundscape upon the ruin that shows insightful and talented songwriting and musicianship alike while we still have a primal spirit retained at the heart of the structures. A recipe for truly impeccable morbidity.

Betwixt rampant blastbeats, occasional d-beat grooves and mid-paced crawls lies a diverse and fantastically concise method of riffing to allow a spew of vitriolic growls to complete the murky and punchy mix. Puteraeon have a very multi-faceted sound which is refreshing to see from a Swedeath band. Do not misunderstand me, I love Swedish style Death Metal but often bands in the current day have a one-trick-horse type approach which gladly does not ring true to this ferocious record. A dark and brooding atmosphere is present throughout the album which accentuates the Lovecraftian themes into a tangible sound and feeling that lingers throughout while the obliteration left by the storms of relentless instrumental malice certainly does not harm this ambience. Melodically there is plenty of skilful uses in the lead work while the rhythmic fury of the album is certainly the main focus, allowing a more nuanced lead-role to add mystique to the sound. The result is a truly a ravening and feral album.

A monolithic slab of Swedish Death Metal with a graven doomy side and fierce hunger for destruction. Atmosphere and sheer brute force are used in unison to concoct a charnel extremity that leaves an impact without question. -8/10