Album Review: Molder - Catastrophic Reconfiguration
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Molder are a band I’ve covered in the past, most notably when they released their previous record: 2022’s Engrossed In Decay. Now another two years on the band have returned for what is now their third full length work, slated for a November 8th release date. Formed in 2017 out of Illinois, United States, Molder are a combination of thrash and death metal that certainly showcased slow and steady indeed wins the race as their early years are utterly peppered with Demos, Live Albums and a Split especially with Coffin Rot. Finally unleashing their first album, Vanished Cadavers, in 2020 the band finally had some traction under their heels. A slight roster alteration saw Cryptum guitarist Carlos Santini join the fray before they began work to write, record and release their sophomore album that truly opened the door for them in the wider metal conscious; the aforementioned Engrossed In Decay. Now, the band firmly intact and unchanged from their last record, they’re back to give us Catastrophic Reconfiguration and their first release via Prosthetic Records. I thoroughly enjoyed the last album and thus I’m hoping this will be just as enjoyable for Molder have certainly acquired a good legion of buzzing fans since their last record release:
Right from the outset Molder demonstrate that they haven’t come to dance around prettily for their soundscape is completely airtight and offers up no chance for fleeing. The record feels completely cemented as every possible crack or duct for escape has been plastered over, giving their sound a more suffocating aesthetic than I recall Engrossed In Decay possessing. They’re aided also by a guitar sound that manages to emphasise the lack of escape in their performance, but also the tempo the band are renowned for championing. Molder aren’t a band who are going to wow you with their pacing because that hasn’t been their style; moreover they’re going to subject you to a crushing, steadier tempo that enables the weight of their tone to instil this encompassing soundscape. If anything, the band took what they’ve done previously and dialled the crushing factor to eleven.
Though the riffs, and their accompanying tone, are evidently a huge factor in Molder’s appeal, it’s worth noting how the band do balance every other element infused within their performance whereby nothing they implement is risking to overpower another. The guitar work may possess a pedestal upon which our attention naturally gravitates towards but, with careful mixing and time, they’ve seen to it their drums and bass, especially their vocals, are just as prominent within their performance. We’ve seen what happens when bands prioritise guitar work alone, the band on the whole suffers as a result; there’ll be sequences wherein the bass especially will have your mouth and eyes contorting with great satisfaction owing to how thick these basslines can become. So too do the bass drums throw up pummelling barrages when the power is needed; it’s essential to state Molder don’t throw everything at us all at once for otherwise the power they can infuse their sound with would wane, and thus succeeding songwriting wouldn’t harbour as much anticipatory delight. Therefore each track has something exciting inside that others won’t possess so venturing further in, you discover more worth coming back to in the future.
Whilst the band are adept at playing their steadier tempo, it must be said that they can raise their ferocity when needed. It’s clear they’re comfortable at playing the steadier kind of death metal as their last record so demonstrated but they are capable of breaking out with speed, and much greater intensity. These instances are often accompanied by blast beats, faster riffs and more ferocious vocals also as each aspect works in tandem with each other to craft that more ripping soundscape. These moments aren’t for long however as the band soon dial it back down organically, reverting to the median tempo fans generally associate with Molder. However this alteration in tempo is necessary for had the songwriting been totally dominated by steadier, blockier sequences it would have risked the audience losing interest eventually. It’s also why their track length is such a positive element for we know we can go into their records and understand that whatever tempo or style of riff they’re unveiling for us, the tracks aren’t overstaying their welcome and we’re bound to be given something new not long from now.
It works to Molder’s advantage that their production has rendered their instrumental performance such a smooth running. Had the band applied a murkier and more muddied production quality the impact and flow their riffs create would be wholly lost on us. It can be an unwanted facet for a death metal band to apply cleaner productions to their music but I think this smooth, polished aesthetic works wonders for Molder since it gives their songwriting the surface upon which their performance can glide over. But there is still great traction herein, their performance always grips the earth which enables us to perceive the stamina they possess. The refined mix also grants solos this near-cerebral quality as they seemingly rise above the given guitar tone for something that signals us to pay attention all the more and, since these aren’t peppered thoroughly throughout the record, their inclusion becomes a special occasion and one worth appreciating when presented.
In conclusion, Molder’s third album is a quality work of death metal that manages to take what makes them renowned and entertaining and proceeds to build upon it. It certainly feels like a natural evolution of their sound as they definitely seem to be incorporating faster and more rabid components into their songwriting, but these instances are only minute and the songwriting soon returns to Molder’s established routines. The band may not be reinventing any wheels but they do what they do to a wonderful quality, and furthermore Catastrophic Reconfiguration is an album that’s surprisingly easy to put on and enjoy. It’s sturdy mix and refined production ensures an easy listening experience so you know you can return to this album time and again. All in all, Catastrophic Reconfiguration is another notch in Molder’s ascent to renown and I believe it is their most realised, strongest material yet.
