If you took the lurching heft of Gojira, some churning death metal like Gorguts and then threw in some tribal, world music not dissimilar to Soulfly’s first three albums, Seputura’s Roots, Bloody Roots, (I have no idea what either band sounds like now, as I have not heard an album from either in 10 years or more) Ektomorf or even another obscure German act, SpiRitual, you might get a taste of what founder and writer and producer Kirill Gromada has concocted and delivered with this stunning, progressive project.

Now, before you can yell “jumpdafuckup“, yes, there are some early Soulfly-ish tribal stomps (“Centres Et Ruines”, ‘Eternal Embrace”) , but it’s much more hefty and rooted in heaving tech death metal. Just take the massive tribal groove that heaves up from the jungle floor two thirds into “Life Beneath the Mind”- that’s a much more discordant Gojira lurch. An yes, there are plenty of tribal drums and world music elements scattered about the songs, both ingrained in the damn solid death metal, or standalone moments of verdant experimentation (“Cult”). and everything is on display on ambitious 10 plus minute opener “Instinct” which book ends the album with another expansive , varied, killer track in 12 minute closer “Summoner of Storms”.

Third track “Abyss” again imbues Gojira with a steady, heaving stomp while after the more laid back “Cult”,  you get a pure tech death metal rager in “Orange Spliff”, that (along with many other moments, such as the aforementioned closer to name one) goes head to head with any tech metal out there now. Vocally there’s deep growls, hoarse shouts (I was reminded of Believer’s Kurt Bachman on Sanity Obscure) , some tribal chants, some clean croons, some screams,  also all very Gojira-ish, so it’s as diverse as the music and the production is perfect, allowing all the elements to balance correctly, with a nice low end on the tribal bass drops and plenty of clarity for the guitars.

Overall, this band and album is one of the more creative and ambitious releases I’ve heard in a while, and I’m thrilled to give it exposure to the 38 people that consistently read this site. This is why I do it . Please buy and enjoy.