Ready for a new De Profundis album?
Formed in 2005 in England, the band composed of Craig Land (vocals, Malignant Saviour), Shoi Sen (guitar, Monument of Misanthropy), Paul Nazarkardeh (guitar, Monument of Misanthropy, ex-Phyrexia), Tom Atherton (drums, ex-Phyrexia) and Steve Woodcock (bass, Linear Sphere, ex-The HAARP Machine) announces the release of The Corruption of Virtue, their sixth album, on Transcending Obscurity Records.
The album begins with Ritual Cannibalism, a raw-sounding composition but which progressively reveals technical elements as well as a bass which stands out a lot in the mix. As for the vocals, we stay in very straightforward and efficient patterns to accompany a catchy rhythmic just like on Sectarian Warfare which also offers massive parts, as well as heady and epic melodies. Relentless March follows with a haunting introduction which gradually gets stronger to become much more powerful without forgetting this catchy aspect. We find haunting melodies as well as jerky riffs on this track which will give way to Weaponised Rape, a frantic track but which also reveals some dissonance. The tortured guitar leads are followed by this crazy and energetic bass before going back to pure rage, then to Embrace Dystopia and its heady harmonics. The band reveals again its Prog influences on this jerky and groovy track which remains quite Old School, then raw aggressiveness resurfaces with Desecrating Innocence and its crushing riffs. The track also lets hypnotic melodies haunt the rhythmic while coming back to this massive blast for the final part, which drives us to Religious Cancer and its heady sounds, creating a contrast with the raw and aggressive basis which permanently strikes us. The album continues with Scapegoat and its dark but soaring tones which allow the vocal parts some freedom, especially with the addition of screamed choruses, then the Prog influences take over again before The Sword Verses closes the album with warlike tones, perfectly fitting Death Metal’s aggressiveness as well as the musicians’ creative madness.
Reducing De Profundis as Death Metal would be pure madness. Of course, the band’s sound is aggressive and heavy, but The Corruption of Virtue reveals as technical as inspired melodies and patterns, making it a rich album.
85/100