Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (Review)

This is the ninth album from Canadian death metallers Cryptopsy.

A new Cryptopsy release is always an event to be celebrated. Less than two years after 2023’s very enjoyable As Gomorrah Burns, the band are now back with the 34-minute powerhouse that is An Insatiable Violence.

It’s technical, it’s brutal, it’s Cryptopsy. An Insatiable Violence flows naturally from its predecessor, delivering a collection of blast-and-groove death metal ragers, as seen through the jagged lens of the Cryptopsy style.

When compared to the previous record, An Insatiable Violence takes the formula to the extreme. The blasts are faster, the grooves hit harder, the growls are deeper. The technicality is surgical in its precision, the bursts of melody as sharp as razors, and the atmospheres deeper. Of the latter, this adds an aura of murderous darkness to the music in places, (the start of Our Great Deception is a prime example of this). I really like the solos too – fluid and passionate.

These new songs are extremely satisfying. There is no filler here, no pointless interludes or extraneous fat, just a lean killing machine that is thirsting for blood. Of course, as it’s Cryptopsy it’s not mindless, but intelligently crafted, with clear attention to detail. It also has an emotive edge on occasion that’s surprising; amidst the punishing brutality you’ll find moments that absorb with their lethal atmosphere or their melodic weight. This is all in the context of the absolute carnage that An Insatiable Violence unleashes, obviously.

The recording sounds great. The guitars are heavy and the drums as clear as explosions. You can even hear the bass contribution. The singer sounds better than ever, with his monstrous growls and serrated screams. One track even features ex-Cryptopsy vocalist Mike DiSalvo, which is great to hear.

A Insatiable Violence is an exceptional slab of devastating death metal ferocity. It’s a very strong record, one that I really like. Top work from Cryptopsy. They deliver the goods once again. It’s a record that is sure to be considered one of their higher tier albums.

Essential listening.