ALBUM REVIEW: Cosmic Putrefaction – Crepuscular Dirge For The Blessed Ones

Italian celestial Death Metal masters COSMIC PUTREFACTION are back with their 3rd full length album. Due for release via Profound Lore Records and Caligari Records on May 6th.

Ambience descends into a warped range of otherworldly riffing and haunting vocals, beginning impactfully with enough oddity to tell newcomers that this band is not a typical Death Metal act. Creepy and inhuman noises seep atop the grooving weirdness of the instruments and usher in the records supernatural splendour. Pummelling force truly rips into life on the 2nd song where relentless drums back up grisly churning riffs and scolding vocals while these drawn out synths tastefully elevate the sound into something quite unique. Brutal, and yet resplendent, the meaty hooks and precision of the band is instantly gripping with their gnarled and yet technically apt ferocity. Perhaps the singular drive of the music could be accredited to it being a single individual constructing it. Everything seems very directional with a focus on movement and progression, while retaining all of the raw fury that Death Metal needs. As a fan of this band, I am thrilled to see their return seems to be on top form. As for new listeners, I am certain the first couple of tracks will win you over.

The use of synths on this album gives it an almost orchestral feel with church organs to cosmic ambience all utilised. They don’t tend to be overly used to the point of overshadowing the music, rather complementing that sparse and gruelling parts of the songs, giving them more dynamic. The core of this record remains, like the others, to be genius riff-work. Bludgeoning drums have been offered on a session basis by Giulio Galati (not to be confused with mainman “G.G”. or Gabriele Gramaglia), a popular initial in Italy it seems. Additional vocals by Riccardo Nioin also see some complementary enhancements on the otherwise sole effort. G.G. even mixed the record (while Dan Lowndes provided mastering skills), this kind of one-man-show can sometimes shut out useful compositional or production criticism or potential talent, but it seems here G.G. has things very much under control and does marvellously at constructing somethign truly special where the vision is clearly there in its entirety.

The first and second records both punch in at around 30 minutes, whereas at over 40, this album is the longest yet. While this may seem a useless observation in itself, there is relevance. Clearly more time has been taken to experiment and add more dynamics and progressions to each song than ever. All of them have subtle twists, orchestral flourishes or something just randomly unique yet always feeling appropriate. This definitely feels like the most careful and intricate work of the band to date, but without losing its metallic aggression. In fact, I would say while being the most beautiful, it is also the most intense and heaviest music by Cosmic Putrefaction too. “From Resounding Silence To The Obsidian Womb” is probably the best singular example of this which jumps from extraordinarily fearsome Death Metal to these cinematic soundscapes. Completely contrasted by follow-up “Amniotic Bewilderment” which has the most primitive (yet dissonantly flared) and savage moments on the record. Though with some splendid acoustic guitars layered in. These 2 tracks are a perfect microcosm of the huge diversity and attention to detail that retains truth for the entirety of the album.

A solar vibration that rings out through the abyss, balancing darkness and light to grandiose effect. Churning cataclysmic Death Metal and cinematic compositions intertwine to take us on a planetary journey that is cavernous, gruelling and truly rewarding.