I don’t think it’s any contest to make the claim that now, more than ever, the world of technical death metal finds itself in a peak golden age. The style has long been one of the craziest reaches of an already supremely extreme style with every new band seeming to raise the bar and bring something new and fiery to the table with their own material that cannot be seen as anything short of mind-blowing. Since the early days of the century, Psycroptic has been a name that has earned worship for their power and prowess in the style that’s come so far that the band is no less than a pillar of the entire style. Never once have they dropped the ball, and they have yet to do so with their eighth full-length album proving to be among their very best.

This is just one of those albums that, before it’s even released, you already know is going to be a banger. The very name of Psycroptic has become all but synonymous with the idea of immense quality as they quickly became known as true masters of the very fire that makes up technical death metal with the very years proving to be immensely bountiful to the band as each album sees them tackling something different, however slight it may be, and always coming out as one of the exemplary acts in the entire world of death metal whenever they’ve new material. With the arrival of “Divine Council”, it’s clear that will be no different this time around. The absolute entirety of this creation is of the sort that is nigh on masterful right from the very beginning as Psycroptic’s talent and their propensity for excellence have come in for a spectacular display yet again with every track from “Divine Council” the sort of eviscerating wonder the likes of which the scene will not forget anytime soon. It’s at every turn that Psycroptic has delivered on the very promise that their name invokes with this, surely, already being hailed as one of the most tremendous works that all of death metal has seen this year even with stiff competition from the band’s contemporaries like Artificial Brain, Inanimate Existence, and Arkaik proving to offer up worthy claims for the year’s throne of most insane release. And yet, “Divine Council” proves to be a contender the likes of which can’t be seen as anything less than titanic. Excellence was the only possibility with this creation, and I know for a fact that I can rest easy knowing that this mastery will get the recognition that it rightfully deserves.

As we find ourselves slowly drowning in all that the world of technical death metal continues to offer with new bands constantly coming around to raise the bar with veteran names always keeping us guessing as to just what else they’re capable of, Psycroptic’s return with this album is fitting, rewarding, and tremendously delicious right from the very beginning. There isn’t a shred of “Divine Council” that should ever be changed, doubted, or criticized for the supreme perfection that it is all the way unto its bloody, defiant end with it’s entirety deserving to be hailed as one of Psycroptic’s finest, and it’s destined to go down as one of the most striking performances that the underground has seen for some time.

LISTEN to “Divine Council” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Psycroptic on Facebook here.