Few sounds have come so far in the world of metal in such a relatively short amount of time as the progressive and technical reaches of death metal. Long have there been plenty of acts that deliver greatness through true talent and understanding of what it means to take the style to its craziest extents, we live in a time where we can never truly know what comes next. There are several acts out there that embody that transition quite well, but few take it to such extremes as what we’ve seen from Horrendous. Starting out with voracious death metal, the progressive nature of Horrendous has become more prevalent over time as the band has evolved their sound with this newest offering their most progressive yet.

An album like this is sure to irritate fans of early Horrendous as it is sure to really capture and enthrall those who have swooned over the last few records from the band. Personally, evolution such as what Horrendous has gone through is a wild thing to behold in every regard as incredibly few acts out there can deliver such a shift in approach and overall sound with competency and skill such that we’re able to come out the other side with something of real substance. In no small way, “Ontological Mysterium” stands as the boldest record from Horrendous in that regard in practically every given form. No minute quite like another for the whole of the record and something that truly bends the mind in ways that only quality progressive death metal can, what Horrendous has summoned forth for this creation is seductive right from the beginning with the finer aspects of the album showing us what it means to keep your listeners engaged by the most dazzling brand of horrific visions. Certifiably out-of-the-box and yearning to constantly break free of its own limitations, “Ontological Mysterium” sees Horrendous looking back on the spirit of metal from thirty, or forty years ago while still looking forward into the future for what the sound has represented as well as what it is still very much capable of.

Jam-packed in a vessel of uncompromising death metal whose form is constantly shifting into what something of true eldritch horror can only come from, “Ontological Mysterium” is unapologetically dense but a damn good time should you find yourself amid the grandeur that is on full display for all nine tracks of this bombastic, eclectic creation. I won’t be surprised if this is hailed as one of the most otherworldly progressive creations in extreme metal for this year, and it’s going to be incredibly hard to accomplish that.

“Ontological Mysterium” releases on August 18th via Season of Mist!

LISTEN to singles from “Ontological Mysterium” on Bandcamp here.

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