U.K. slam monster Colpoclesis have been consistently pushing the boundaries since their inception. Taking the worst of what humanity and society has to offer and using that to inspire further darkness and despair, resulting in a negative feedback loop of sorts, there is no surprise in the fact that “Elegant Degradation” is a release even darker and more twisted than the 2020 EP ‘Human Dignity Invaded’. But the question for many is just who are these purveyors of filth?
Colpocleisis are in their current state, a mix of some of the finest the U.K. death metal scene has to offer. With members coming from bands like Crepitation, Gorehead, Exhumation, Neuroma, Omnipotent Hysteria and the like, the four piece of Jon, Joe, Ste and Lewis have refined their craft over the years and together, create a monster which is like no other in the realm of Slamming Death Metal. Opting to forgo the chugging focus with throw away riffs which is a common feature in most Slam tracks currently, the focus instead has been to dig deep and unearth the most twisted and abominable things imaginable and to make them musically viable, giving a true intense and extreme death metal experience, so with that being said; let us begin!
The rolling fade in of opening track “Degrade” wastes no time in bringing the brutally heavy. Sledgehammer dropping guitars buzz with dissonant harmonics and the bass feels like the ground quaking under the foot of a colossal entity whilst the drums keep a tight pace, full of activity but not going flat out blast-happy. The instrumental work is magnificently heavy but the vocals are where it all clicks and you get a true picture of just how heavy and intense Colpocleisis actually are. The sheer depth and force behind the guttural growling is simply fantastic and at the same time it has the effect of invoking that base instinct of fight or flight in the face of something far greater and more dangerous than yourself.
From here it simply maintains this level of brutality and heaviness. Cascades of thundering low end bass rumbles and bursts of double kick drive on the crushing sledgehammer riffing and the vocal growls continue to stalk you like a predator, taunting you with lyrics painting the degrading state of humanity. Sickness, murder, violence… it is all there, painted vividly on a canvas of low tuned riffing. The blend of Cannibal Corpse style heavy riffs to the pacing of slamming death metal is a potent combination which helps create the potent display of music on offer with this album. “Discumblobulated” shifts between furious bursts and huge, pounding riffing and “Six Feet Chunder” seemingly follows on in a similar heavy vein. Both tracks pummel away with the potent riff and rhythmic attack and the urge to throw the hammers is overpowering. Inflatables, walking round in a circle and headbanging is a must for all tracks on this release.
“Toxoplasmosis” has a huge low end thunder to it – the bass is terrifyingly powerful, and the inclusion of the pig-grunt vocal sections just helps add to the intensity of the track. “Evangenital Obliteration” ups the pace significantly, once again drifting into the Cannibal Corpse like death metal. Squealing pinch harmonic laden riffs with groove laden chugs come in waves and it has a real rawness to its delivery, giving it a very noticeable presence on the album. “Flagellating At The Slab” has a wild edge to the riffs and pacing. It has a fierce bite and the wildness of the progressions which shift from flat out to churning groove and again, the powerful vocals help give it that killer edge. “#ProlapsoVaginal” wins an award for the funniest title of the album and an apt description of Twitter supremo Elon Musk. On the more serious side, it’s another huge groove monster with commanding vocals and fiercesome rhythmic assaults. The relentless double kick and sporadic blasts drive the quick track on and follow up “Third Degree Gurns” will have you twisting your face up as you drop hammers to the groove. “Corpocleisis” borders heavily on the grind elements, being significantly faster paced and sharper edged than most tracks on the album and the heavy riffs with their piercing harmonics help with the intensity of the track.
The final two tracks “Do Not Resuscitate” and “Decay” slow the pace back down. The drums might be frantic in bursts during ‘Do Not Resuscitate’, but the pacing is set by the colossal wall of guitar and bass. Lumbering and monolithic in presence, the riffs tower above the chaotic sea of blasting drums before they crash down with guttural vocals rumbling in their wake. “Decay” keeps up the slower pace giving it a more familiar slam-like feel as it lumbers on, but again that intensity is there making it so much more. The intense vocal attack and pounding riffs flow on from the previous track and despite it being short in length, it’s just as hard hitting as any track on the album, proving to be a fitting end to a powerful album.
Colpocleisis have done fantastic here. They have kept their formidable slam core and expanded on it with elements of brutal death metal and grindcore. More refined with a sharper edge on all fronts – heavier bass, tighter riffs, entropic drums and commanding vocals; “Elegant Degradation” is a fine slice of death metal which is highly enjoyable to fans of not just slam styled death metal, but a wider death metal audience who love their music heavy and hard hitting. Still retaining the humour element present in slam, but mixing it with a serious undercurrent in the form of a scathing attack on society today, this is an album any fan of the UK death metal scene should get their hands on!
(9/10 Fraggle)
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