Death metal has achieved much in the past few decades with bands of all sorts coming forward and delivering unto us experiences that challenge our perception of what the genre can still be. While I have never been one to turn away from some straightforward material of the genre, it’s fascinating to see what a band can do when they seek to push themselves and their craft to new horizons to show us what’s truly possible still. Epitaphe has been on the rise over the last eight years with each release showing us a new side to their vast arsenal, and it’s with their third offering that they yet again exceed any and all expectations.
While it would be a strain in every sense to simply label Epitaphe as a death metal band, atmospheric or otherwise, it’s important to reconcile with the simple fact that death metal is at the core of what makes Epitaphe the undeniable monster that it is, but that’s far from all there is to this act. Their previous albums reflect that to great effect time after time, but it’s here with “III” that we see those seeds blossom along with concepts extrapolated into something that feels fully fleshed out and nigh on captivating for what they dare to become. Across five tracks that span an impressive 54-minute runtime, it’s damn near every given minute of this record that offers us something that not many others in this scene are able to offer. Epitaphe is quickly making a name for itself as one of the defining against-the-grain death metal bands in the current landscape, and they’re all the more fascinating for it. “III” is nothing if not a fluid soundscape. Masterfully crafted death metal that supported by gorgeous passages that explore much of what the style is capable of and far more than what one would expect, it is here that Epitaphe challenges its listener, but not through brutality alone. Rather, majesty, sorrow, and evocative visages are at the forefront of what makes “III” the tapestry of splendor that it is with the craftsmanship, passion, and meticulous attention to the detail of every note that enables this record to be the sleeper hit the underground didn’t know it needed.
Each year offers us works of death metal that refuse to play by the genre’s typical rules, and while Epitaphe may not be the largest name in such a pool of talent, “III” makes it painfully obvious that this is a band that not only knows precisely what it’s doing but makes it look downright effortless. The sort of creation that deserves to be hailed as what could very well be one of the year’s very best, Epitaphe continues to rise in such a form that is the definition of undeniable.
LISTEN to “III” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Epitaphe on Facebook here.
FOLLOW Epitaphe on Instagram here.
https://youtu.be/KIAtan2A_PE?list=RDKIAtan2A_PE