PHOBOCOSM REVIEW

PHOBOCOSM - GATEWAY

Now with their fourth full-length, Quebec-based Phobocosm continue to pulverize with their mechanical, inorganic-sounding dark death metal that is uniquely their own manchination and driven to be among their most aggressive in the discography until now.

"Deathless" begins all things, incorporating the slow, tortuous tempo of doom metal mixed in with the crashes of the cymbals assistant the strings leveraging against E.B.'s growled vocal delivery. Forgetting about speed altogether, "Unbound" is exactly that, shower faster pacing than their sound is often known for and powerful enough on all fronts for it. Staggering the remain songs are the instrumentals "Corridor" Acts I, II, and III, the first having a somber undertone as the militant-style drumming certainly does give a feeling of marching orders as the track is devoid of any vocals and relies heavily on the barrage from the battery. II is more sped up and aggressive with more of a somber sensation guitar tone and defintely gives off a feelng of hopelessness and abandonment. III is done in leitmotif-style with a dizzying array of riffs slowed to perfection and pummleing in the right way with the right atmosphere of suffocation.

With only two years since their prior release (there was quite a considerable gap between albums beore that) Phobocosm return with a vengenace to give us their most ferocious and highly-polished assault on our senses, taking plenty of nods from doom and black metal as well to create a classy, heavy as Hell release for us once more. How blessed are we?

9/10