Amongst the progressive death metal genre, there’s a lot of bland material going around. Much of it on the tech side of things, with bands deciding that the need to out-tech each other outweighs the need to write a brutal, heavy, and most importantly, memorable song. On a random look at some upcoming releases, the ominous and gory cover of Crowned in Corpses caught this scribe’s eye and gave it a closer look. Pathogenic’s first album in over five years, the reborn Boston act proved to be a surprisingly excellent one that demanded full attention for it’s expansive thoughts on death metal.
It’s hard to really give Pathogenic a straight ‘classification,’ and that’s fantastic news. There’s some modern sounding grooves and emphasis on massive riffs throughout, while still delivering absolutely punishing and devastating energy, nuanced musicianship and prowess, and just the right amount of melody. The opening cut and single, “Mass Grave Memory,” showcases much of the band’s good sides. Earworming grooves and melodies, a potent intensity, and some gentle bits of melody to generate a track that sucks the listener in, all without turning into a techy mess. “The New Rot” ups the proggy/tech factor a bit from the opener, but it’s done in a playful way that melds well with the modern groovy bits and gives them more diversity to play off of.
The middle of the album gives us the 7-minute “Fragments,” which proves to be a true gem in the band’s arsenal. It’s a tightly focused track despite the extended playtime, allowing some of the most progressive elements to be fleshed out without being excessive, with the sound going so far as to include some tasteful clean vocals without making it seemed forced or ‘trendy.’ Instead, some floaty, clean bits give it an almost psychedelic vibe, augmented by keys for added ethereal notes. All of this while still bringing a heavy backdrop at times that offers aggression without feeling jarring. Closer “Silicon Regime” also benefits from the extended runtime, though delivering a more visceral experience that feels layered and gripping. That said, they can also hone in on pure devastation, with the short title cut serving up urgent riffs upon urgent riffs in a tantalizing mix of heaviness and memorability.
Crowned in Corpses works because it has a firm grasp in creating an aggressive death metal album that’s enriched by progressive song structures and catchy melodies. It walks a tight balance that many seasoned acts just can’t seem to master. Those seeking death metal that is riff-forward without overdoing it, and tapering the melodies just right should have a killer time with Pathogenic’s latest.