A different approach can effortlessly make or break a band when it comes to trying to stand out in a sound that’s as densely populated as death metal. To make yourself a larger than life presence and offer listeners an experience that’s as thrilling as it is undeniable is to instantly make yourself a name to know even amongst the stiff competition that death metal has seen rise. With their debut album, Carceral understood that concept and ran with it to dramatic effect.
I would argue that in the vast majority of scenarios, we’re given albums that follow relatively the same structure with the variations coming from whatever genre we’re dealing with at the time, but it can be said that the “rules” tend to remain similar as we venture from one record to another. However, as is the case when you make it a mission to explore the vastness of the underground, there are many instances that can be found where you just weren’t expecting what comes before you. When I first entered “Descending Reprisal” from Carceral, I don’t think there was much that could have prepared me for the approach that this quartet took with the results simply bombastic. This isn’t straightforward death metal, but, rather a display of power and understanding that can only be expressed in short-form bursts of calculated madness. Across a staggering twenty-four tracks, only two clock in over two minutes in length, “Descending Reprisal” offers us a fascinating vision of a world in constant turmoil with Carceral built off of uncertainty and wildly frenetic energies. Laced with prog tendencies and more than enough nuance to keep you coming back for more as it becomes increasingly obvious that this is an act not interested in playing things safe, Carceral offers us something that not many in this sphere can.
Where many other acts make stick to the well-defined foundations of death metal for the most part, Carceral was clearly not content in offering listeners an experience that can could label as familiar in any form. Fiery and downright explosive from beginning to end, “Descending Reprisal” is that injection of shock and awe that many of us are always needing in our listening habits, and Carceral may have the answer for that rarely met need.
“Descending Reprisal” releases on October 9th via I, Voidhanger Records!
LISTEN to “Descending Reprisal” on Bandcamp here.
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