Archspire
Relentless Mutation

THE REVIEW

It happened once again!

A band I didn’t know, that I had never listened to, literally overwhelmed and stunned me in the past few weeks.

After more than 35 years of extreme listening, which began back in 1985 with Possessed and their seminal debut "Seven Churches", I still manage to find, in my constant search for new Death Metal and similar records, something capable of properly shaking me.

This all happened thanks to the Canadians Archspire (Canada has always been a land of Metal wonders for me!!), yet another group belonging to the Technical Death Metal genre, but which stands well above the competition thanks to a series of features so ferocious and maniacal that they verge on — and sometimes surpass — total madness.

An execution speed with few equals.

Chaotic, yet always in control, the hyper-fast drumming.

Two 7 and 8 string guitars that weave patterns of such complexity, of an extreme difficulty.

But it is Oli Peters' voice that makes the real difference, pushing Archspire to "unbearable" levels for its confusion, its speed; generating real terror even in myself, accustomed to such "beyond" sounds. He devours words, delivers dozens without ever taking a breath, never losing an ounce of unhealthy aggressiveness. It's like receiving the same punch hundreds of times in just a handful of seconds!

The title track is the glaring example of what I've just written.

Yet every single track, there are only seven for a total duration of 30 minutes, contains all those disturbing features I have just finished describing.

A few moments of electro-acoustic calm to soothe the feverish pace.

Horribly pleasant; diabolical and lethal.

The new album release is coming soon... which I await with drooling frenzy...

I think it's impossible to surpass them... but never say never...

Diabolos Rising 666.