While I tend not to care whether or not a band partakes in one, gimmicks are always a tricky business. It can effortlessly be the deciding factor between people investigating the material in interest or dismissing the work before even giving it a chance. For me, though, it’s all in the execution as is the case with many things for you can have the absolute dumbest and outlandish themes to center your sound around, but a solid foundation that’s properly followed through can accomplish many things. Such is the case that I found within the debut EP from Cult of Sobek whose approach into the scene is as unseen yet viciously aggressive and dangerous as its centerpiece topic would have you assume.

There are more than plenty of themes out there in the vast world of doom metal with several being done far more than others, but there’s nothing that some imagination and musical tenacity can’t bring to the table to make something different happen and be done well. Reaching back to the ancient Egyptian pantheon to bask in the waters of the crocodile god, Cult of Sobek takes a path I don’t think any of us could have expected, but it’s with the three tracks that are presented to us in “Petsuchos” that I feel like this act is really onto something. Doom metal feels like an incredibly perfect fit for a beast like the crocodile especially if we narrow that down to the Nile crocodile to even further go along with the themes. A lurking monolith of power that waits for the right moment to strike before bursting forth from the murky waters with primal strength, the very sound of Cult of Sobek goes along with their concept exceedingly well. That’s not even mentioning the sheer ferocity of “Petsuchos” itself. Adorned with massive riffs that are just as capable of flooding the riverside towns as they are receding back until the time is right to strike once again, Cult of Sobek knows precisely what they’re doing. There’s no fumbling around in the dark looking to grab ahold of the first thing that works and praying breathlessly that it works. Instead, Cult of Sobek takes one confident stride forward after the other as their debut offers us more than just a few riffs with a loose concept. In no small way, Cult of Sobek has poised itself for future bloodbaths the likes of which doom metal can never have enough of.

The very name of “Petsuchos” refers to the musicians behind Cult of Sobek being the disciples or even the very children of Sobek himself to really make this EP an outlet for his power that can be just as benevolent as it can be chaotic and violent. In no small way, this debut delivers on that in heaps! The prey is in sight, the trap is set, and Cult of Sobek poises itself for the kill. Now, we must wait for the right moment for the beast to make the next killing blow so that the great river may run red yet again.

“Petsuchos” releases on July 22nd via Trepenation Recordings!

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

LIKE Cult of Sobek on Facebook here.