Crypta – Shades of Sorrow

Crypta – Shades of Sorrow
Release Date: 4th August 2023
Label: Napalm Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Blackened Death Metal, Thrash.
FFO: Nervosa, The Black Dahlia Murder, Death, Morbid Angel.
Review By: Rick Farley

To say that Shades of Sorrow is one of 2023’s most anticipated releases would be nothing short of an understatement. Brazilian death metal merchants Crypta burst onto the scene in 2021 with their critically acclaimed debut album Echoes of the Soul on Napalm Records. Blending death, black, and thrash metal in a modern shell but with serious old school feel, swagger and attitude, the band struck all the right chords in the death metal community with their feral rawness. Originally formed in 2019 by former Nervosa members Luana Dametto (drums) and Fernanda Lira (bass/vocals), the band also includes Tainá Bergamaschi and Jéssica di Falchi on guitars, rounding out the powerful four piece. 

Shades of Sorrow is the quintessential sophomore release. It’s bigger, badder and hella nasty. After a short piano interlude that sets the ominous tone of the record, Fernanda’s throaty snarl forms into a hellacious scream that soars over the relentless death metal onslaught of Dark Clouds. Metallic, chunky, thrashy riffs, punishing blast beats and chaotic tempo changes bring the extreme ferocity right to the forefront. A little over mid-way through the track, the vicious beating slows just enough to stop the bleeding, but only for a brief moment. Wicked trebly guitars rip out monstrous leads that scream, squeal and whammy dive through the mayhem with skilled, but reckless abandonment. The vocals are a mix of screechy gutturals, and demonic growling. Being absolutely one of the best death vocalists in the genre today, her vocals are as crucial to the hungry hordes of metalheads as is the violent cacophony of gnarly instrumentation. 

The Other Side of Anger uses the serrated guitar melodies and shreddy solos to tear your flesh off in chunks, musically bringing to mind a slight Death influence. Slinky basslines are full sounding adding depth to the mix, pulsing, and twisting alongside the barb wired guitar riffs. Luana rips through insane fills and unforgiving blasting, constantly attacking with mind-numbing technical skill. The track has an irresistible catchiness to it without sacrificing any brutality. 

Agents of Chaos is a slow burning feast of death metal complexity. On the surface the layers aren’t as apparent, but after a few listens you will see the incredible amount of jaw dropping musicianship within. Flawless tempo changes with blackened melodic elements that interplay with terrifying atmosphere, all while individual fire hot virtuosity is on display. The twin guitar solos of Tainá and Jéssica scorch with an authentic old school intensity not heard in most of todays death metal. This is fierce brutality, built for headbanging and face melting. 

Track thirteen The Closure painfully closes out this fifty-two minute beast with a chilling touch of piano driven despair evoking a horror movie ending where the hero did not survive.     

Shades of Sorrow was recorded at Family Mob Studios, mixed by Daniel Bergstrand at 33 Stockholm, Sweden and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio. The record sounds incredible, fully embracing modern technology but still keeping the sound raw and jagged. Thirteen tracks of darkness, rage, despair, and savagery. The ladies of Crypta have outdone themselves considerably. The songwriting, execution and maturity level has increased tenfold. This could easily end up being my favourite death metal record of the year. Extreme replayability will keep you coming back for more, and masterful songwriting brutality will keep you fully engaged. This is a beating that you will eagerly ask for over and over. 

(5 / 5)