Apocalypse is approaching for Eschaton.
Freshly signed to Transcending Obscurity Records, the band features Josh Berry (guitar), Mac Smith (vocals, Apogean, Abyssalis, Hammer of Dawn), Christian Muenzner (guitar, Retromorphosis, Eternity’s End, ex-Necrophagist, ex-Obscura, ex-Alkaloid… ), Darren Cesca (drums, Goratory, Serpents of Gnosis, Pillory, ex-Deeds of Flesh, ex-Arsis) and Scott Bradley (bass, Inanimate Existence) announce the release of their third album, Techtalitarian.
Inferior Superior gives us a brief moment to prepare, but it’s not long before complexity and rage combine to create a wave as devastating as it is controlled, with blasts and piercing leads hurtling straight at us. Mac‘s howls are just as devastating in any form, rivaling the surge that propels us towards Devour the Contrarian, where jerky riffs return in force to create a veritable cascade of violence where every instrument is meticulously crafted. The final solo takes us to Blood of the People, where the band offers us a few seconds’ respite before setting themselves ablaze once again and offering a cataclysmic heaviness to accompany the torrent of violence, where each element is chained together to create a constant assault, only halted by the mystical intro to Hellfire’s Woe before the sound starts again at full speed. It’s occasionally interspersed with piano notes, but remains dedicated to its worked rhythm’s vehemence, while the backing vocals herald the transition to The Bellicose Duality, which unveils a raw, catchy groove that complements the syncopated approach. If the track is far from suitable for a neophyte audience, it’s followed by Econocracy, which adopts a few grandiose touches that sound like they’ve been borrowed from the greatest symphonies before really letting go of the reins, molesting us until Antimatter takes its place. Once again, we’re confronted with a steady rhythm where each instrument adds its lively and precise touch to the work, then the musicians slow down for a short moment to ensure the transition to Techtalitarian, the eponymous track, before resuming a more usual speed. The incessant harmonics create a relatively ominous atmosphere that contrasts with the previous tracks, but fits perfectly with The Sufferer’s Dichotomy, which provides a kind of logical continuity between the two parts of the universe. A heavier section serves as both moshpart and the basis for a tortured solo, before Castle Strnad closes the album with a final dose of highly complex riffs, as well as offering a small tribute to a musician you all know, who left us in 2022.
When it comes to technicality in Death Metal, it’s easy to get carried away, but not when you know the CV of the members of Eschaton. Techtalitarian is undoubtedly one of the most polished and devastating albums of the year, setting the bar terribly high for releases in the second half of the year!
95/100