REPLICANT – Infinite Mortality
Release Date: 12th April 2024
Label: Transcending Obscurity
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, Dissonant Death Metal, Progressive Metal.
FFO: Gorguts, Ulcerate, Wormed, Demilich.
Review By: Carlos Tirado
As a dedicated metalhead, I’ve long awaited new releases from Gorguts, hoping to fill the void left by their absence. While other bands have come close to capturing that essence, each has had its own distinct style. Replicant‘s 2021 album, Malignant Reality, took me by surprise, hitting the mark precisely and finally quenching that lingering emptiness. Could Infinite Mortality surpass or even exceed that impression?
This album isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s hardly a chord in this beast that doesn’t sound dissonant or simply out of key, coupled with tempos that deviate far from tradition. Sure, there are blastbeats, but they’re enveloped in such a dense, dark atmosphere that truly embodies the best of Demilich and Chthe’ilist. It’s unapologetically oppressive, yet at the same time, the album (in the songwriting department) is dynamically rich to a ridiculous degree. It switches gears more than a Faceless Burial album. So, don’t expect to start grooving right away.
There’s absolute chaos and despair here, but with purpose. Even the vocals convey a horror and pain reminiscent of Gorguts. Grotesque artificial harmonics, unrelenting guitar and drum sections, and a bass that, when it shines, exudes an intimidating presence. Sometimes, it feels like listening to one long track, as all the songs blend effortlessly (I never got bored!). There’s real anxiety and tremor in Infinite Mortality that is impossible to avoid once it starts rolling.
Anything I didn’t like? Well, as I mentioned before, there’s hardly anything pretty in the album. It’s challenging and hits like magma, melting your face off indeed. Those who seek groovy and tough-guy Death metal will likely find Infinite Mortality deeply unappealing. Additionally, the heavy borrowing from Gorguts and Demilich can feel somewhat derivative. However, I believe that with this new release, Replicant is carving out its own sound with more detail than ever before.
If you crave absolute darkness and decay but find most Black metal too cold and melodramatic, or if you miss Gorguts as much as I do, then I’m pleased to say that Replicant is here to immerse you in an infinite loop of existential anxiety and mortal violence!
(4 / 5)
