Review: “Spiritual Atrophy” by Cultist

For the past decade or so Calgary, Alberta Canadians Cultist have been musing on thoughts of science fiction, mythology and mental illness while painting portraits in pure unadulterated Death Metal. Their reputation for creating cruel, punishing and aggressive sounds to strike fear into the hearts of humanity was enhanced by 2022’s debut album “Manic Despair“, a record which had been a long time coming and was well worth the wait and its weight in gold. Recorded and mixed by Dying Remains guitarist Scott Oliphant (Caustic Fog, Balrogath, Divine Apprehension) before mastering by Rolando Rodas (Smoulder, Rites Of Thy Deringolade, Dire Omen), their sophomore effort “Spiritual Atrophy” promises more. More blood. More death. More devastation. Death Metal from beyond the abyss. The last gasps of the dead, dying and the damned as they slowly rot and decay in open graves.

There can be no doubt that retaining the line up of Vanessa Grossberndt, formerly of Cessation, on bass, Betzi Poitras on guitars and Jim Petigo, once of Chieftain, on drums with everyone contributing vocals has gone a long way to ensuring a senselessness between albums, the chemistry between the trio an essential cog in their well oiled machine as they maintain perpetual forward motion. There is an eerie almost cinematic quality to instrumental opening cut “Divination Whispers” which sets a haunting atmospheric tone, creating a sense that something wicked this way comes before the crushing mid tempo introduction of “Coursing Between Worlds” surfaces with flavours of Morbid Angel and Heriot. While as an opening track proper is doesn’t have the explosive start that you might have wanted, it makes up for it with sheer brute force, the tempo shifting as the sonic abrasions grind at the cranium with bursts of blast beats and snarled vocals.

“Neophyte” follows suit with obvious 90’s influences bleeding through the bandages of the pulsating rhythmic attack, the track having an nervous almost schizophrenic energy to it, even before the off kilter madness of the odd time signatures in the finale. Like a good old fashioned horror movie, it’s designed to make you feel unsettled and that’s exactly what it does, as does the quirky “Reality Shaper” which packs so much feral bark and bite that you might feel like you need to locate a tranquilliser gun for your own personal safety. A blistering solo is utter insanity as it plays out over the eerie riffs and pounding percussion, so much so that you might wonder if the men in white coats are lurking in the shadows with a straight jacket to take you away. Reality has been shaped in mind bending fashion, the demonic roars of the finale setting up the caustically abrasive “Phenomena” in style. Another brutal assault on the senses that feels like you’ve opened a box full of sharp objects and then can’t get the lid closed fast enough to avoid being cut to shreds.

Instrumental interlude piece “Perversion of Survival” sounds like something from a classic 1979 science fiction horror movie, paving the way for Scott Oliphant of Dying Remains to provide a majestic guest solo on “Ascension“. A masterclass in old school Death Metal of rampaging rhythms that is as punishing as it is aggressive, this one sounds like the dogs of war have been unleashed to do Satan’s bidding while having an undeniable groove laden section post-solo that is sheer class. Ripping through the urban jungle like a tornado with sharks teeth “False Prophet” is all guts no glory, a full on frantic riff attack with enough feral vocals to keep the zombies away from your door. Arguably saving the best to last, the intense violent delight that is title track “Spiritual Atrophy” finishes the album in style, the pounding percussion and razor sharp guitar work letting the music do the talking. Whisper it but perhaps there is a sonic evolution happening in which Cultist are beginning to sway towards more avant-garde territory… [7.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Divination Whispers (Instrumental)
2. Coursing Between Worlds
3. Neophyte
4. Reality Shaper
5. Phenomena
6. Perversion of Survival (Instrumental)
7. Ascension (ft. Scott Oliphant of Dying Remains)
8. False Prophet
9. Spiritual Atrophy

“Spiritual Atrophy” by Cultist is out 20th March 2026 via Awakening Records