Engulf – The Dying Planet Weeps (Review)

This is the debut album from US solo death metal act Engulf.

Across 36 minutes The Dying Planet Weeps spans a range of influences, from the old-school to the new. The music of Engulf prioritises a non-standard song-based approach that combines sinuous riffs, expressive harsh vocals, and macabre darkness.

Imagine Morbid Angel mixed with elements of Decapitated, Hate Eternal, Gorguts, and Immolation, and you’ll be on the right lines for Engulf’s brutal, yet textured assault. Guest vocalists/guitarists appear from Alluvial, Aborted, Near Death Condition, and Hideous Divinity, all adding something into the Engulf mix.

Mechanised blast beats and punishing groove provide a solid foundation for the songs, allowing the artist to weave technical riffs and intricate mood into the layers of the death metal heaviness. The music benefits from an edge of dissonance that assists in worldbuilding, while still maintaining a level of accessibility that should see mosh pits spontaneously erupt wherever this is played. The artist behind Engulf is clearly no stranger to crafting quality death metal songs. These tracks are well-written, structured, and laid out, allowing for an interplay between direct appeal brutality, catchy heaviness, and obscure mood that’s infectious.

The Dying Planet Weeps is an enjoyable and satisfying death metal album. Full of character and compelling songcraft, it’s one to visit over and over as it pummels you into the ground with a combination of brute force and sophisticated violence.

Very highly recommended.