This is the third album from German death metal band Infecting the Swarm.
(Deep breath…)
BRUTAL!
DEATH!
METARRRGGHHHH!
Now, here’s an album I have been looking forward to. Both 2014’s Pathogenesis and 2016’s Abyss stood out from their BDM peers, and I have been hungry for a follow up. I wasn’t sure we’d ever get a new record as it’s been so long since the last one, but here it is, and we wait no more.
Pulsing Coalescence boasts 38 minutes of carnage and savagery, and is also the first Infecting the Swarm album as a full group; the original artist behind the band is now joined by a bassist and drummer, (which includes current and ex-members of Ashen Horde, Cerebric Turmoil, Norse, Profanity and Somnium Nox).
Brutal death metal, despite how may I like it, can easily be faceless. However, one of the things that drew me to Infecting the Swarm in the first place was the band’s sense of identity, (relatively speaking), and I’m pleased to say that this is intact and well on Pulsing Coalescence. Now though, seven years and two new band members since Abyss, this has been fleshed out further. One great example of this is the drumming; despite how fast and furious the music is on this new material, the drums are surprisingly varied and rich in delivery.
Having said that though, Pulsing Coalescence is a dense and unforgiving affair. The songs are packed with violent technicality and the sort of relentless brutality that’s withering. Holy crap these guys don’t hold back. The guitars are lethal and range from simple chugs to complex riffing, sometimes within the blink of an eye. The vocals are low in the mix gutturals that effectively act as just another instrument; they are unvaried and monstrous.
Albums like this, when done well, as they are here, are just fun to listen to. You can get lost in the punishing blast beats and zone out to the frenzied guitars. What’s not to like?
Well of course, realistically speaking, this won’t be to everyone’s taste, I’m well aware of that. This is not music for the uninitiated, and I’m sure even some death metal fans will think this too mercilessly brutal. I’m just glad to have the band back and firing on all cylinders. Pulsing Coalescence is brutal, brutal, brutal, and pretty damn good.
Highly recommended for fans of murderously brutal death metal.
Wonderbox Metal 