It has been quite some time since Montreal’s Cryptopsy has offered up a new full-length album to the masses. Since 2012’s self-titled album, Cryptopsy has released only two EP’s: The Book of Suffering – Tome I and II in 2015 and 2018, respectively. Those two EP’s left the masses thirsting for more new material. Since I have known frontman Matt McGachy, people have always asked me: when are we getting a new Cryptopsy album? Well, my friends, that time has finally come and what a brewtal-ful thing it is.
Opening track “Lascivious Undivine” wastes no time, screaming out at hypersonic speed from the first second. Breakneck riffing, pinging bass lines, and pulse pounding drums mixed with McGachy’s vocal cadence wallops the listener with an early haymaker to have their head spinning early on. I noticed that the riffs would last a bit longer, allowing them to breath longer than they would have on previous releases. Do not fret, there are still all the quirky twist and turns that you are accustomed to on a Cryptopsy release from the guitars. It feels like guitarist Chris Donaldson is on a mission on this album and he absolutely fucking owns it.
Lead single “In Abeyance” comes next and is my favorite track off the new album. I kept playing it over and over after it was released. It is just so damn groovy, catchy, and brutal. The part that kept getting stuck in my head for over a month was this weird pick scrapping mixed with the bass guitar over some machine gun double bass. It made me want to run through a wall each time. This track will have me in the pit when I see them on their upcoming tour!
“The Righteous Lost” was another stand out track for me on an album full of gems. We get some amazing bass playing by Oli early in the track that plays well with the stop start guitar parts. After the technical fun, the track gets heavier, faster, and darker. The track alternates between groovy, technical parts and just straight up ass kicking death metal parts that left me not knowing what was coming next. Even the guitar solo caught me off guard as it was super melodic in nature. It was a much-needed breather in a super chaotic track.
“Praise the Filth” is the last and longest track on this eight track, thirty-three minute epic ride. This one starts off with a more mid-paced tempo, grinding along and pulverizing what is left of the listener, before picking up steam around the two-and-a-half-minute mark. All the instruments come together and form this three-pronged groove machine that feels like an auger ripping your brain into pieces before exploding into three separate pieces of sinister riffing over that machine gun double bass as the bass keeps the groove going. I had to keep going back and relistening to that part of the song over and over to process what I was hearing. The track slows again and slowly fades out, with Matt bellowing in the distance as the Flo beats the drums at what is likely a snail’s pace to him.
I was surprised to find out that this is the longest tenured lineup that Cryptopsy has ever had in their existence. It shows on this album. This unit is tight, concise, and dialed in; feeding off one another’s performance to create a truly special album. Vocally and instrumentally, this is one of their best albums in decades. This isn’t me being a homer. This is a truly special album and for me, it is one of the crown jewels in the Cryptopsy crown. Do not sleep on this album!
- The Metal Architect
