Or to give it its full title, “The Word Of His Law: An Address To Abraxas In His Time And Place, Through His Grand Viseer, Thine Panpsycopompos”. The accompanying promotional material is just as pretentious, promising “enigmatic incantations” and “obscure musical treatise”. Unfortunately, the blackened death metal stylings from this fresh yet mysterious Canadian duo are somewhat lacking in the delivery stakes.
Following the cinematic opening of “The Place & The Time”, there’s a sloppy half-time feel double kick drums on “Howling Premonition”, accompanied by pointless fretboard noodling that does thankfully give way to genuinely thoughtful harmonies and melodies later in the song. “Exfiltrating The Triangle” throws together Possessed style riffs and a familiar sounding Slayer-esque riff with some off-tempo vocals, whilst the blackened thrashy chops of “Reborn As The Word Of His Law” assault the listeners eardrums with some aimless fretboard scaling and descension masquerading as a guitar solo.
“Libidinization of Will Azothic” is the closest we come to any semblance of focus, though ultimately the song goes on a bit too long. However, album closer “An Address to Abraxas” finally showcases that the band can practice restraint and patience in composition. The song is primarily instrumental with extended passages of mournful reflection, straying into neo-folk territory.
The promotional material states that “the songs simply pass through them from some other sphere of existence”, and yes, it is fair to say that the band have taken a series of tropes from several genres, mashed them together and manifestly shat them out in an aesthetically unhinged manner. If Egregore can apply the standard of application shown in the final track to their heavier and more frenzied moments, they might be onto something.
(5/10 Doogz)
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