Cryptopsy – As Gomorrah Burns (Review)

This is the eighth album from Canadian death metallers Cryptopsy.

New Cryptopsy! It’s been a while. When we last heard from them they had released two strong EPs, (2015’s The Book of Suffering – Tome I and 2018’s The Book of Suffering – Tome II), but now they’re back and ready to achieve their kill quotas.

Cryptopsy know what I like. As Gomorrah Burns speaks directly to me by getting right to the meat of the matter with explosive opener Lascivious Undivine, suffering no pointless intros or interludes, and boasting a tight 33-minute running time. Yep, this is how extreme metal is meant to be.

As always with this formidable band, this is death metal with a well-formed personality of its own, despite having the obvious calling cards of the genre. Cryptopsy’s death metal is brutal, technical, inventive, and absolutely great. Bursting with hostile dynamic energy, Cryptopsy’s new set of songs are mercilessly moreish.

As Gomorrah Burns seethes with the barely constrained chaotic carnage of the band’s late 90s/early 00s era, but isn’t beholden to it. The record brings to mind 1998’s crushing masterpiece Whisper Supremacy, while also benefiting from aspects that recall 1996’s total and complete classic None so Vile, (which is as colossal a compliment as it gets). All this, while still following on naturally from the last two EPs, and looking forward as much as it looks back. Essentially, this is the Cryptopsy of 2023 playing to all of their strengths, and continuing to forge their own paths into the death metal underworld with contemptuous ease. Never ones to rest on their laurels, Cryptopsy’s new one is a stunner in its own right, past glories or not.

Packed with riffs that twist and turn, contorting with hateful brutality and relentless intensity, these songs do not let up. It’s a credit to the band’s ferocious creativity that they never once sound one-dimensional. Instead, As Gomorrah Burns is murderously enjoyable throughout its eight superlative tracks.

This was always going to be good – it is Cryptopsy after all – but I was not prepared for just how good it is.

Utterly essential for any fan of brutally aggressive death metal.