Corpsessed – The Dagger and the Chalice

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Dark Descent Records
Finnish death metal brutalizers Corpsessed are definitely looking to make an impact with this disc. And what an impact indeed.
Picture your face getting ripped off, fucked, then slapped back onto your skull while getting kicked in the nuts. And that’s only the beginning. This is not just some throwback tribute to the old school of death metal, this is a true monster of the old school.
The disc starts off with a slow, doomy intro with growls and some serious atmosphere. It’s menacing as fuck, a feature that continues throughout the CD.
“Crypt Infester” follows, keeping a slightly doomed feel, with some clean lead sections at the beginning, then going for a crushing main riff. Fucking amazing.
“Nameless Cult” is another atmosphere-of-evil covered song, reminding me a little of Morbid Angel’s earliest stuff. It’s definitely slower moving, dragging you along through it’s horrors. When it speeds up the atmosphere doesn’t dissipate, but rather thickens, bringing your head to bang with or without your consent. The only thing I honestly wish was different with this song is it’s length; it’s too short.
“Altar of Worms” is a heavy assault of metal, picking the pace up a little from “Nameless Cult”, but not by much. The doom feel is a little less pervasive, but still elements are there, which I’m loving.
“Massgrave” is the longest track on the album at 5:15, and it takes over from “Altar…” with barely a pause. It’s so good that even at the five minute mark it’s not getting boring. The doom is back a little, mostly in the vocals, very much reminding me of funeral doom type throatwork.
The title, and final track, starts off all ambient and droning, for almost a minute, then just kicks you down another set of stairs with the fastest, most brutal track on the disc. Pure ferocity, and yet somehow these guys can keep that element of atmosphere, that thick cloud of horror around your ankles. Just great.
In other words, I love this album. I can’t wait for it to be released, I’ve got the CD preordered right now.
9 out of 10.
May 9th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
DAT FINNDEATH
FUCK YEAR