Cabal strikes again.
Formed in 2015 in Denmark, the band consisting of Chris Kreutzfeldt (guitar), Andreas Paarup (vocals), Arsalan Sahki (guitar), Malthe Sorensen (bass), and Nikolaj Kaae Kirk (drums) announced in 2022 that they had signed to Nuclear Blast and then release Magno Interitus, their third album.
Let’s start with If I Hang, Let Me Swing, a fairly modern track which features raw and dissonant riffs coupled with aggressive vocal parts to create a contrast with the catchy samples before letting a crushing break stomp us. Insidious follows with a fast and jerky rhythmic which is sometimes adorned with colder and more impressive parts, then Magno Interitus, the eponymous track, unveils colder sounds in company of heady samples and Joe Badolato (Fit For An Autopsy). The straightforward and dark riffs give rage a special flavor, which the band also uses on Existence Ensnared, a disturbing composition to shade its majestic violence. Screaming sounds skillfully strengthen aggression, then Insatiable borrows from Hardcore roots to create a groovy and motivating sound. The final moshpart drivesus to Blod af Mit, a rather strange composition which mixes a simple jerky rhythm with a devastating efficiency, taking advantage of its length to develop some Noise/Industrial tones. Once these experiments are over, the band goes back to Deathcore, just like on Exit Wound wher dissonance haunts the aggressive riffs for a rather short but very straightforward track, which will leave us with Violent Ends. After a very short introduction, the band comes to choke us again with a heavy and massive sound which will slow down to become unhealthy before coming back to raw rage. Like Vultures continues in this aggressive and dark dynamic contrasted by the majestic and more modern samples, making this track the perfect compromise between strength and airy sounds before Exsanguination is much more direct with its sharp and jerky riffs. The track will still offer some atmospheric additions, but we feel the track is shaped for the stage and made to break necks, just like Plague Bringer, the last track, which links moshparts in its groovy rhythmic before a more soothing finale.
Cabal does not make any prisoners and lines aggressive riffs up. Magno Interitus still knows how to create a dark and interesting contrast with ominous and soaring keyboards, which makes the album’s sound as heady as raw.
85/100