Once thought to have been a band lost to the sands of time forever, Chicago Brutal Death Metal purveyors Ditheist have returned from the void a decade after their split with Malas to once again rule with an iron fist. Original guitarist Konrad Lysak and drummer Narcyz Fortuna remain from the line up that gave us debut EP “Seduction of Demons” back in 2008, the pair joined by vocalist Matt ‘Chesterfields’ Wright alongside guitarist and bassist Brian Frost. Together, the quartet have created a sophomore album in “Cosmic Liar“, an eight track affair, recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Wisco (Novembers Doom, Morbid Saint, Jungle Rot) at Belle City Sound in Racine Wisconsin. Their prior convictions, including their 2015 debut album “Eternity of Nothingness” were all inspired by the likes of Decapitated, Behemoth and Vader, offering existential dread to dark humour and social commentary but after a decade in the wilderness, do they still have what it takes to live up to their legacy?
This funeral pyre of old school Death Metal is set alight by title track “Cosmic Liar” which finds Ditheist older, wiser and more aggressive. Raspy dry throated harsh vocals offer the kind of blasphemous lyrical narrative that offers intrigue, all washed down with surgically precise riffing and intricate drum patterns that set the tone for a dark new day. An acoustic introduction to “Evil To Live” is a nice touch, the old school vibes continuing with pomp and circumstance as the band create a distinctive rise and fall pattern The funky bass line is allowed to rear its ugly head a few times, which is masterful, as is the surprisingly vibrant solo.
Late 80’s and early 90’s Death Metal influences soak through in “Kill The Priest“, a cut which offers more intensity but which is also just as much fun, the blast beats and jackhammer footwork from Fortuna giving the likes of Kevin Talley a run for this money. There are also a few hints at other styles on this one in little nuanced moments, a Black Metal styled riff here, a Black n’ Roll or Thrash moment there, just enough to provide interest without the need for any purist to call them a sell out. A malign deity in the Cthulhu Mythos created by H. P. Lovecraft is the subject of “Nyarlathotep“, a cut which has glorious Middle Eastern riffs and ethnic vibes with which to get the party started. More playful rhythms and intricate patterns make this one the kind of evil you can enjoy with a knowing grin, the instant appeal in familiarity adding to the ease of listening. A barnstormer of a cut with surprisingly catchy lyrical narrative, this one is arguably the best of the bunch.
Pulsating neck snapping grooves make “Apoplectic Delirium” an angry anthem that you might not be able to get enough of, its savage onslaught reminiscent of Morbid Angel with Wright giving arguably his finest vocal performance of the record. Menacing and sinister throughout, if this was on the soundtrack to a low budget 80’s movie on VHS it would be a collectors item. Briant Daniel then drops an incredible guitar solo on “Covenant Ov Torture” which adds that real gut punch moment while elevating the barbed riffs, the tune very much a headbangers delight that would have appeared with alarming regularity on MTV’s Headbangers Ball had it surfaced back in the day.
While Ditheist are everything you’d expect from an old school Death Metal band – brutal, direct and uncompromising without thrills or spills, they’re also incredibly good fun and “Mouth Of Hell” is a fine example of that. Blast driven rhythmic gymnastics with rumbling bass and razor sharp riffs register as seismic activities and that’s before we’ve even mentioned the cavernous vocals. Put simply the formula is one that the band have perfected over the past two decades and with this collection they prove how devastating it can be. The last sharp object in the box is “Singularity“, a cut which brings with it depictions of cosmic chaos with staccato riff breaks that break out into a face melting solo that absolutely stunning. It’s the perfect note upon which to end an album and all we can do is pray to anyone who will listen that Ditheist don’t take another decade to drop album number three! [8/10]
Track Listing
1. Cosmic Liar
2. Evil To Live
3. Kill The Priest
4. Nyarlathotep
5. Apoplectic Delirium
6. Covenant Ov Torture
7. Mouth Of Hell
8. Singularity
“Cosmic Liar” by Ditheist is out 6th June 2026 and is available over at bandcamp.
