Hailing from New York, Thætas, has returned, and the band has remained intact all this time. Their 2020 debut album, Shrines to Absurdity, was a banger in the brutal technical death metal style they play. Nick Crifo – Drums, Terrell Grannum/ Pat Hawkins – Guitars, and Cory Monster – Vocals/Bass have created a storm with The Irredeemable Age, their second album.
As with the debut, the band writes shorter songs, and it makes the music more impactful. With a thirty-minute runtime, the band jumps right into “Dhukha” (rough meaning is a type of Buddhist philosophy). I cannot remember the last time I heard an opening song with an isolated bass guitar moment. Regardless, it’s pretty darn cool; then the song gets into a NY stylized blast beat, then slows down, then speeds up. The pinch harmonics scream 1992, and if you liked Suffocation’s earlier efforts, you will most certainly enjoy this. As with the debut album, Nick can toss those gravity blasts around and alongside the crawling slams and guitar harmonies; this is an excellent opening song.
“Summers of Hate” is up next, and this does not have to be a hateful summer, as long as you have some great NY pizza. My fave is King Umberto in Elmont, LINY, in case you give a shit. The double pounding blast beats definitely have Mike Smith’s ears ringing over and over again. Plenty of tasty drum fills and madness towards the end of this brief two-minute scorcher.
The title track begins with a monster slam, and honestly, I would open with this song in a live environment. It fuckin hits hard AF, especially with the pinch harmonics, and the pit would be ruthless with bodies flying all over the place. The main slam riff repeats multiple times throughout the song and is excellent. The technical aspect of the bass plucking and harmonics adds an air of excellence. Cory lets loose with some killer growls on this track. He’s a monster….wait, that’s his last name. Cory-is this really your last name?? Like what is the experience in a professional setting if someone was to refer you, “Good morning, Mr. Monster”??
“Digital Locusts” closes the album and, at five minutes, is the longest song on the album. Starting with gravity blasts, this song takes no prisoners in its approach. Excellent throaty, guttural vocals and some time signature changes during the fast moments, which is controlled chaos. The double pounding blast, at the 1.25 section, will have you thinking Suffo’s Breeding the Spawn album, which there are plenty of nods towards that album, on this release. Killer growls, over the fast moments, and the band even tosses in some jazzy moments towards the end of the song.
The Irredeemable Age is a great album from Thætas. They have upped their songwriting, musicianship, and brutal technical prowess. The band cannot just be lumped in with other NY brutal slam death metal bands. Thætas is doing something different. Yes, the slams are there and yes, the NY style is ever present. But this band is weird, and I mean that in a good way. With their non-linear approach to this death metal style, to their oft-kilter time changes, at times, Thætas has a lot in common with Brooklyn, NY’s Pyrrhon – another sick and twisted band. Nice organic production, warm and inviting. Thætas should be pleased with this kick-ass record!
