Review: “Spiral Crypts” by Disembodiment

What happens when… as an established band you create music with a different sound and different lyrical themes that doesn’t fit into what what you’re doing? The story goes that back in 2020 Disembodiment crawled out from the sewer ruins of Sherbrooke in Québec, Canada as all four members of Oath Div. 666 opted to use another name for EP “Mutated Chaos“. A record upon which they had gone filthier, groovier and heavier than ever before, soaked in themes of death, oblivion, horror, nightmares and dark fantasy in which every slasher movie is based on a true story, that ended up being a critically acclaimed beast. Four years on they return with a sequel, mastered by Carlo Altobelli (Deathfiend, Final Struggle, Savage Death) at Toxic Basement Studio in Milan Italy. Curiously enough the recording process was split into two with drums, bass and some of the guitar work laid down in Studio C with Christian Drouin (who later mixed the record) and the rest of the guitars and vocals being recorded in the bands rehearsal space…

After a horror movie style introduction created for the band by Frank Z that sounds like an alien invasion taking place sets the scene “Morbid Infestation” gets going with some muscular Death Metal riffs and pummelling percussion. Blast beats and caustic vocals ignite the flame from those sparks at the half way point, the four piece devouring the weak without a seconds hesitation. Monstrous and malevolent, its a moment to savour before “Stygian Overture” follows in its wake, the anguished screams of the backing vocals the metaphorical equivalent of a VHS nasty that kept you awake at night in the early 1980’s. Vocalist Mathieu Breton wears out the warranty on his larynx with this one, his savage vocals giving you the opportunity to just about make out the lyrical narrative. There is however melody in the madness, a bridge between verses offering a moments respite before the world returns to perpetual darkness once more. Rampaging through the village with a pitch fork in one hand and a flaming torch in the other “Spiral Crypts” burns everything in its wake as drummer Eric Choquette gets wild with blast beasts and cymbal smashes. The dark, tension filled atmosphere bleeds dread and the rhymical bludgeoning is so slick you’d think the band were a group of mercenaries operating under the cover of darkness. Continuing to demonstrate a love of the 90’s American Death Metal sound “Putrification” tears a hole in the space time continuum as a blistering onslaught that doesn’t hide in the shadow of intent. A whammy bar tinged solo adds a spice that’s nice and if anything this one ends prematurely because it could easily go on another verse and chorus without much trouble.

A classic science fiction horror introduction offers a moment to breathe before the Groove Death tinged “Larval” roars into life, Christian Lacroix’s distorted guitar work driving things forward some fun rhymical moments that will crack a smile on the face of even the hardest of Metal heads. A little more whammy bar magic rises from the black depths in “Infected To Rot“, a cut that also has a bass solo from Carl Choquette in amongst the madness. The sonic torment seemingly knows no end but by this point the discerning listener may have noticed the over arching themes that weave this record together. While its not described as a concept album as it plays out there is that distinctive air about it, something hammered home by the vicious “Unknown Origins“. A cut that sounds like it has some very early Sepultura influence on it with a couple of almost tribal drum fills as well as the bands trademark raw guitar sound, this one has as much bite as it does bark. It may actually leave you wondering just how far this band could go if they were left locked in a damp, dark, basement torture chamber hell for twelve months because its depraved enough to be the kind of thing they use to inflict sleep deprivation on those they wish to pluck information from. If you get what we’re saying. A rumbling bass introduction to “Sentient Inorganic Mess” ensures that you know this is going to be a grand finale that paints the walls in blood… but what you might not have counted on is a false ending with icy synths and a sample from Kurt Russell in “The Thing” [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Morbid Infestation
2. Stygian Overture
3. Spiral Crypts
4. Putrification
5. Larval
6. Infected To Rot
7. Unknown Origins
8. Sentient Inorganic Mess

“Spiral Crypts” by Disembodiment is out 11th July 2025 via Everlasting Spew Records and is available over at bandcamp