Sulphur Aeon – The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos (Review)

Sulphur Aeon are a German death metal band and this is their third album.

After the triumphant roar from the depths that was 2015’s Gateway to the Antisphere, (which I loved), this new one is greatly anticipated. It has not disappointed, either. Boasting another hypnotically engaging piece of artwork, the band are back and better than ever.

Sulphur Aeon play monstrous, highly immersive death metal. Atmospheric and creative, The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos contains 51 minutes of death metal that expands and pulses with devastating power and unnatural vigour.

If you have yet to encountered this band, then I suppose the simplest, lazy comparison would be to a hybrid mix of Behemoth and Morbid Angel. However, although loosely accurate, this misses something important, as Sulphur Aeon are very much masters in their own right.

Across eight sterling songs The Scythe of Cosmic Chaos takes the listener on a terrifying, yet utterly compelling, journey into the bowels of the underworld. Bold and muscular, this is music with real presence. Each song has its own distinct personality and flavour, while still flowing from one to the next with potent ease. There’s so much quality content going on here I invite you to simply listen to it, but the band’s use of melody and the inclusion of the occasional clean vocal both deserve special mention. As does, of course, the impressive songwriting and delivery.

This is an apocalyptic album full of dark atmosphere and foreboding mood. Grandiose and epic, but not in ostentatious or overbearing ways, Sulphur Aeon have crafted an album that provides depth and substance, as well as raw visceral appeal.

Full of a plethora of inventive ideas, Sulphur Aeon have once again pushed the boundaries of what death metal is capable of, and cemented their rightful place in the upper realms of the extreme metal pantheon.

Essential listening.