I’ve said it many times before and I will continue to say it likely for a long time to come: the blooming of modern technical death metal is nothing short of astounding. It’s allowed many of the most exceptional creations in the world of metal in recent years to find homes and extremely loyal listeners while always managing to push the boundaries of what’s possible for technical prowess in the genre, and it’s yet to let up in its vicious offensives that we see renewed every single year. A name that’s somewhat been in the background of it all, Anachronism has been honing their craft since the band’s inception almost fourteen years ago, but it’s now with their third full-length album that they’re clearly more than prepared and capable of taking the scene by storm!

Slowly but surely, there appear to be two clear veins of technical death metal that we’re seeing taking dominance when it comes to the different directions that the style can be taken in with more than a few certainly falling onto each route comfortably. One takes the side of a relatively straightforward song structure with choruses, solos, and what-not offering us a familiar experience while still melting our brains with crazy instrumental work that the style is known for, and the other allows bands to try for something a little different without having to adhere to follow any clear structure to make the experience as a wholly organic, unpredictable, and viciously interesting because of it. Without question, “Meanders” falls into the latter as its very name might suggest. Anachronism absolutely nailed the very concept of keeping the listener guessing as to what precisely is going to happen next with the eight tracks of the record wildly engaging right from the beginning as the band rarely relents in its undeniable brutality except for choice moments of clarity and off-putting bliss. At the same time, “Meanders” always makes sure to make more than enough room for the band’s outside-the-box elements to come to the surface with a clear line being able to be drawn between the technical mastery on display and some form of jazz to add another level of intrigue and wonder to the record as if it was lacking any.

Brought together with a tremendous cohesiveness that quickly enables the album to become amazingly organic at any given moment, Anachronism has crafted real good with this album in a way that ensures it to be the most engaging creation of technical death metal that I’ve heard in months by far with very few able to stand in the way of Anachronism’s clear and undeniable rise through the scene. “Meanders” has so much more to offer than any single listen could ever hope to uncover that I can only beg you to let the crushing weight of this album overtake you for, truly, it can show you sights that are simply overwhelming.

“Meanders” releases on January 27th via Unorthodox Emanations!

LISTEN to an advanced track from “Meanders” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Anachronism on Facebook here.