Eight years since their highly anticipated debut album, "Charnel Passages," the transatlantic death metal force known as Cruciamentum has risen from the abyss with their long-awaited sophomore effort, "Obsidian Refractions."
With a revitalized and formidable lineup, the band now stands more commanding than ever, delivering their most advanced, demanding, and overpowering work to date.
"Obsidian Refractions" takes Cruciamentum's death metal paradigm to the next sonic measure, surpassing anything they have previously released.
It masterfully encapsulates the essence and aesthetic of ancient cult death metal while seamlessly incorporating the dynamic, complex, and next-level elements relevant in today's death metal landscape.
The darkness that envelops "Obsidian Refractions" resonates with unequivocal, uncompromising evil and magnitude. It not only builds upon the band's aura of dark death metal majesty but also infuses the album with progressive, savage, and complex-yet-aggressive substance. The result is an unrelenting and ever-tectonic-shifting riff assault that creates a modern death metal monument unparalleled in its ferocity and artistry.
Cruciamentum's signature style, characterized by its dark and foreboding atmosphere, remains intact but now enhanced by a newfound level of maturity and complexity. Drawing inspiration from classic death metal luminaries like Morbid Angel and Immolation, the band melds these influences into a sound that evokes a sense of dread and delivers ominous melodies.
The journey of "Obsidian Refractions" is a testament to Cruciamentum's dedication to the craft. The album showcases their ability to maintain the spirit of classic death metal while pushing the boundaries of their own distinctive sound. It's an exploration of the darkest depths of the genre, a testament to the band's unwavering commitment to their art.
In summary, "Obsidian Refractions" by Cruciamentum is a monumental release in the world of death metal. It demonstrates the band's evolution and their mastery of crafting aural landscapes that are both haunting and intense. For fans of extreme metal, this album is a must-listen, solidifying Cruciamentum's place as a formidable name in the underground death metal scene. Another CD that could easily serve as the soundtrack for one's descent into the depths of hell.
Rock on!
