Turris Eburnea – Turris Eburnea
Release Date: 15th March 2021
Label: Everlasting Spew Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Death Metal, Horror, Existential.
FFO: Gorguts, Artificial Brain, StarGazer, Dead Congregation.
Review By: David Oberlin
Formed in the midst of a global pandemic Turris Eburnea a collaboration between busy bodies Gabriele Gramaglia (Cosmic Putrefaction, The Clearing Path & Summit) and Nicholas McMaster (Krallice, Geryon & Edenic Past) Hailed as experimental, eponymous EP, Turris Eburnea, is a death metal grind with a light touch of prog.
Nuzzled finely in the sub-genre of intelli-death Turris Eburnea discuss science features spiced with necrotic charm in their debut. With a disharmonious nonchalance and disregard for prettified and palatable melodies. Yet, that’s not to say that this EP is an atonal mess. Far from it. It might be discordant but it’s contiguously dissonant and with heart. There’s a valve pumping here that flows with ambitious creativity.
It is with deep harsh tones that Turris Eburnea forge an enthusiastic tirade of aggressive riffs contrasted by some malleable synth sounds. And, while synths may be contentious in most death metal circle-pits they are used here in just the right amount. Affirming this EP as art and not just practice (with that description reserved for tech-death.)
While declaring something as art above skill might seem like a high and/or pompous accolade. In relation to this EP, it is apt. As the structure is more like sonic architecture than a disjointed stream of aural consciousness. And, that is not to say that it does not flow. As there is, of course, a thread of cohesion binding every track together. Gramaglia & McMaster have clearly put a lot of thought and effort into this and it shows.
Never a dull moment in its playtime Turris Eburnea, as an outfit, is an effective combination of skill and talent. And, as an EP, a pseudo-horror metal blast with progressive tendencies and death metal overtones. Packaged in a science philosophical.
(4 / 5)
