Review: “Let Anguish Embrace” by Kryptess

At the start of 2022, feeling like they had some unfinished business, former Cacodaemonic pairing in guitarist Tom Else and bassist Joel Wheeler decided it was time to start a fresh. Armed with a drum machine and the vocal talents of Elloise Cantrell they opened Pandora’s box and unleashed hell, as Kryptess was born. The Nottingham Death Thrash trio hadn’t committed anything to tape but managed to spend July of that year on tour with Gamma Bomb. It would be 12 months later that they would finally unveil debut EP “One Girl, One Thousand Lacerations” and it was worth wait, opening the door for them to share the stages with the likes of Foetal Juice, Basement Torture Killings and Tortured Demon. In 2024 Cantrell would depart, leaving big shoes to fill. Unperturbed, Else and Wheeler went in search of fresh blood and found drummer Tom Dell as well as former Karnak Seti and Tigguo Cobauc vocalist Renato Ramos.

While debut EP “One Girl, One Thousand Lacerations” was a portrait in Blackened Death Metal, it becomes clear very quickly that Kryptess have evolved their sound to embrace elements of Groove Death and Death Thrash with ripping opening cut “Surge Of The Unknown” having the distinctive flavours of Devidriver and Lamb Of God. Whether that’s due to the vocal style of Ramos, which is very much in a similar vein to those of a younger Randy Blythe or something that happened more organically is an interesting question. Either way, the opening cut is a defiant, rage fuelled anthem delivered with a clenched fist and a metallic thump, the buzz-saw riffs and powerful percussion driving home the message that the band are very much still here. Lyrically its one more in keeping with the themes of Hardcore but none of that matters because the redefined soundscape is scorching.

Continuing in the same vein “Addictions Curse” has instant head-bang appeal with a tasty, groovy Thrash riff, Ramos vocals being the single heaviest element in its composition. There are a couple of points where you almost expect them to burst into a rendition of “Redneck” by the aforementioned Lamb Of God, which is testament to how slick the musicianship on this one is. The harsh vocals are almost blood thirsty, the jackhammer footwork bolstering the rumbling bass nicely throughout; the band deliberately avoiding any virtuoso solo or atmosphere building keys on this one.

Title track “Let Anguish Embrace” has a menacing and sinister harsh spoken word while doubling down on the Death Thrash riffs. An introspective lyrical narrative is chemically enhanced by the dry, raspy vocal performance in tasteful fashion, the band getting creative with their rhythmic assaults on the senses to conjure something with grit, integrity and white hot intensity.

Taking us to “Hunter” by A Life Once Lost territory with Robert Meadows style vocals “Eclipsed In Exile” finds the bass brought forward in the mix to act as a second guitar. It’s a masterstroke as Ramos spits and snarls, his Gollum like inhaled vocal moment a piece of pure unadulterated evil. It almost feels like Else has saved the best of his guitar work for last because the grooves of this one are of the earworm nature; once heard, they don’t get out of your head for days. Refined in the fires of chemical hate, Kryptess have not only been reborn but have risen like a phoenix from the ashes [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Surge Of The Unknown
2. Addictions Curse
3. Let Anguish Embrace
4. Eclipsed In Exile

“Let Anguish Embrace” by Kryptess is out 3rd July 2026 and is available over at bandcamp