The Italy based Everlasting Spew Records has been one of my favorite discoveries of the year. Shame on me for not being aware of them earlier. After putting out crushing albums from Diabolizer and Galvanizer, Everlasting Spew continues to decimate and dominate with the full length debut from Occulsed, Crepitation of Phlegethon (say that five times fast). Formed in 2019, Occulsed claims to hail from Atlanta, Georgia, but upon first listen of this album, I can’t help but believe they reside somewhere between the cemetery soil and the underworld. Or at least they’re frequent visitors of these nether regions.
Crepitation of Phlegethon is a no holds barred assault that combines pulverizing old school deathgrind with pummeling death/doom riffage. It should also be added that this album has the production value of a possessed chainsaw, giving a bestial war metal atmosphere from the moment it kicks off with the unholy “Unction of Muliebrous Broth”. Such primitive dynamics (or lack thereof) can be grating to the ear at times, but clearly Occulsed is a band who could care less what you, I, or any other mere mortal thinks. This is death metal for the undead.
Frontman Kenneth Parker barfs out his vocals in the same manner as Impetigo’s Stevo Dobbins. The riffs during the fast passages have a bit of an Impetigo feel as well, but are quickly countered by miserably putrid doom sections. Occulsed’s take on death/doom draws equally from the hellish fury of Incantation and the misanthropic gloom of Celtic Frost. Cuts like “Peryphelgethonic Mindflaying” and “Tendon Pandentum” showcase these monolithic riffs in grand fashion. I wouldn’t go as far to call Occulsed a death/doom band, but if these songs are a taste of what they’re fully capable of, they sure could have a strong foothold in the death/doom niche.
While Occulsed has crafted a murderous multitude of headbangers in Crepitation of Phlegethon, this is an album where I believe the musicianship is even stronger than the music itself. Guitarist Justin Stubbs can occasionally throw in melodic leads reminiscent of funeral doom, as heard most prominently on “Peryphelgethonic Mindflaying” and “The Soul’s Adonishment”. Meanwhile, drummer Jared Moran unleashes an absolutely insane performance, especially on “Lurid Placeless Echoes”, which channels the finest moments of Pete Sandoval. It’s funny because the drums aren’t necessarily high in the mix, but I certainly noticed them. They’re practically entwined with the riffs during the album’s most war metal moments.
Although Crepitation of Phlegethon isn’t the strongest death metal album to drop this year, it achieves its purpose in bludgeoning the listener to a pulp. If death metal trends continue the way they do, Occulsed is a name we’ll be hearing far more of in the near future. And if these guys have it their way, it’ll be a filthy, festering, foul future.
6 out of 10
Label: Everlasting Spew Records
Genre: Death Metal
For fans of: Impetigo, Celtic Frost, Incantation