Acephalix – Theothanatology
Release Date: 30th September 2022
Label: 20 Buck Spin
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Crossover Thrash Metal, Hardcore.
FFO: Vastum, Necrot, Entombed, Discharge, Undergang, Grave, Ossuarium, Slayer, Depravity, Adramalech.
Review By: Eric Wilt
Do you like your death metal crusty, anguished, and full of nihilistic dread? Sure, we all do. Well, we’re in luck because Acephalix has returned after five years to confirm that God is dead on Theothanatology, a nightmarish soundtrack of hopeless funereal death metal and crossover thrash. With a lineup that is filled out by vocalist Daniel Butler, drummer David Benson, guitarists Adam Camara and Adam Walker, and bassist Erika Oserhout, Acephalix has created a claustrophobic soundscape devoid of hope though not, fortunately, devoid of bone-crushing brutality.
Although Acephalix is a death metal band, one listen to Theothanatology reveals that the band is equally influenced by hardcore and crossover thrash. Take the title track for instance. Theothanatology is a crossover thrash song slowed down a beat or two per second, although Acephalix sets them self apart from other bands in the genre with their buzzsaw guitar tone and low guttural vocals. Acephalix sound like a death metal band, even when they are following their evil muse to other subgenres. Godheads is next, and it leans more toward straight-ahead death metal, complete with blastbeats, at the beginning. This is followed by what is a pre-chorus of sorts, where Acephalix let rip with some hardcore so fierce it would get any pit circling. Abyssal follows, and it deftly blends hardcore and crossover thrash, before embracing some balls-to-the-wall death metal during the verse.
And by now, you’ve begun to notice a pattern. Acephalix is a crusty death metal band that leans heavily on crossover thrash and hardcore. Even Pristine Scum, which features some of the most satisfying death metal sections on the album, sees the band throw in a hardcore part now and then. The penultimate song on the album is called Defecated Spirit, and it is arguably the strongest track on Theothanatology. The death metal riffs are interesting, and the verses are played with a minimalistic style that adds a ton of heaviness to the already banging song.
Overall, Acephalix leans a little too heavily on the crossover thrash for my taste. Just when the band finds a ripping death metal riff, it switches gears and their punk aesthetic jumps in and distracts from what could otherwise be a top-tier death metal song. This pattern is repeated again and again, and although there is definitely enough goodness on Theothanatology to warrant repeated listens, this old death metal fan would love to see what Acephalix could do if they decided to fill an album with nothing but their death metal bangers.
(3 / 5)
