AS the latest album from Psycroptic, The Pulse of Annihilation has a lot to live up to.
But as the ninth release from a band internationally recognised as one of the best in its field, with a reputation for consistency that is second to none, it comes as no surprise that it fulfills all expectations.
Bearing all the hallmarks of this band’s ferocious sound, The Pulse of Annihilation still reveals some new surprises.
“Ashes of a New Dawn” opens with sludgy darkness, a slower aspect the band has rarely showcased, returning to it at points throughout while also raining down faster, descending motifs and the twin-vocal onslaught of Jason Peppiatt and Jason Keyser’s ragged fury. Bassist Todd Stern also gets a moment to shine.
“The Sword of Me” furthers their dalliance with dark atmospherics and acoustics with a slow build into mid-paced, throbbing and then a succession of wrist-breaking Joe Haley riffs.
This is taken to a further extent on “Our Pillars Fall”, where Haley’s acoustic guitar rings out darkly over a bed of gloomy ambience and whispery vocals. “No Time for the Weak” is a thunderous demonstration of the band’s ability for simplistic brutality.
These different sides of their creativity only further enhance the venomous fury of Psycroptic’s technical death metal onslaught, moments of dark clarity amongst the chaos. Typically, the drums and guitar are forward in the mix, allowing for warmth and groove over cold and clinical technicality, and the tag-team of Jason Peppiatt and Jason Keyser adds an extra dimension to the vocal delivery. Initially an experiment on their COVID-era EP “Watcher of All”, the twin Jason attack is a full augmentation here, Keyser’s burly roar strengthening Peppo’s raspy shrieking to solid effect.
The album ends on a high note, “Forging the Crown” bringing all the elements of Pulse together in an epic finale of catchy grooves, vicious riffs, darkened atmospherics and nuanced brutality.
With slow, deliberate evolution and an instinctive grasp of substance over style and feel over technique, The Pulse of Annihilation is another Psycroptic triumph.
