It goes almost without say that Spawn of Possession was a legendary group within the tech death scene. Their arguable pinnacle, Incurso, was a frantic statement that left their mark and sadly left a number of people hungering for a follow-up that never came. It’s with glee that Retromorphosis has come into view, featuring all of the group’s last known members except drummer Henrik Schonstrom coming together to play…you guessed it, tech death metal. Joining the four of them is KC Howard on drums, and while they are unquestionably playing death metal, don’t expect a mere Spawn of Possession revival.
Yes, they could have easily ridden the coattails of the Spawn of Possession name and delivered something similar, and given their pedigree, it’s probably be universally praised. But instead, they chose to take a risk and bring in a more ‘well-rounded’ approach to Psalmus Mortis. Their tech-death influences are certainly ever-present and you can feel the stamp of them with cuts like “The Tree” and “Vanished,” but it’s cut with both old-school and modern references. There’s a distinctly heavy feel to the album, and it carries a grimy tone that feels so refreshing compared to the hyper-clean tech material of today. The death metal side is primal, from Dennis Röndum’s barked vocals and Howard’s drum blasts to the frenetic riff combos of Jonas Bryssling and Christian Muenzner.
There’s also a haunting melodic side that pops up from time to time. “Never to Awake” lunges ahead with fury, but more modern melodies emerge from time to time and give it an eerie side that fits potently with the sound. The 9-minute “Machine” starts off with some spooky atmosphere before diving into more melodic yet tech-y material, and does an excellent job of moving between more eerie and memorable moments and progressive noodling, all while keeping the song moving forward with purpose. Notable standout basswork from Erlend Caspersen also is welcomed, giving a pleasant rumbling tone that doesn’t feel relegated to simply following the guitarwork and is given it’s own time to shine.
Psalmus Mortis doesn’t rely on the pedigree of Spawn of Possession’s name, instead offering the members a chance to try some new directions within the death metal realm. Retromorphosis are off to an excellent start, incorporating tech flashiness while coupling it with both timeless and modern death metal to give it a distinct freshness. More than worthy of the hype, this a group that should have no issues grabbing a wide extreme metal audience.