Album Review: Occulsed - Antegnosis
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Occulsed are just one of the plethora of extreme metal acts breaking through in today’s metal world. Forming in 2019 out of Georgia, United States, the band began slow yet steady by releasing two Demos, soon succeeded by Singles teasing the upcoming release of their first studio album come 2021, the filthy Crepitation Of Phlegethon. Since then the band have often been in the back of my mind, so strong did i reckon that record’s impact, but after four long years Occulsed return with their second record. Though they released their Parturition Of Adulteration Compilation in 2022compiling their early Demos together including a new song, Antegnosis is be the first considerable release in some time. Continuing their partnership with Everlasting Spew Records, having acquired some stellar bands lately and, penned for a September 26th release window, I was interested to see what Occulsed would do to work off the foundation Crepitation Of Phlegethon has established.
I like how Occulsed start up their record with crushing tone and an encroaching riff as if no time has elapsed since the end of their previous record, getting us back on board where we last left off. But those opening seconds are imperative to the experience of Antegnosis for audiences will listen knowing this is par for the course, that they need to wait long for the album to unveil itself, unveil its insidious nature. But while it is crushing and brings the weight of its riffs down like a hammer, it doesn’t feel so crushing that we can’t feel ourselves whilst the band play. Even at their fastest instances you’re not going to be unnecessarily weighed down and thus are given the space to process and reflect on what you’ve heard.
I think the mix has leaned heavily in favour of the guitar work for though everything can be heard, the riffs evidently occupy most of the space we’ll be listening to. Take the vocals for example, they’re audible and we can feel the tone they’re inferring, the gravel in that delivery effortlessly jutting forth from the depths of their frontman’s cords, but it is buried enough by the guitar work that the maximum potential they could infuse the record with isn’t being reached. One could say you won’t understand a word said, but then again given the kind of delivery displayed that was never going to be the case anyway; Occulsed’s guttural vocals were always more atmospheric than anything else. I simply wish they were a little higher in the mix so they had a stronger chance to stand out.
One could say something similar about the drums however I believe these, unlike the vocals, do impact the experience to a greater degree than the vocals can. Likely emboldened by the bass bleeding into the record, the bass drums provide the needed beating to give Antegnosis enough ground so it doesn’t just feel like some disembodied guitar playing alone. Curiously this is a record that doesn’t try and merely abuse bass drums every chance it gets for the drumming is fluidic and always looking to change things up, and though blast beats are at home amongst such crushing death metal they aren’t employed so completely that they negate any miscellaneous implementations the kit provides. Since the primary display of Occulsed is so heavy, a restrained drumming performance works well for the band.
What I did enjoy especially was during the soloing, the guitar playing suddenly jumps forward, gaining clarity as if someone has given the solos a good shine, letting them stand out against the otherwise depths-plunging guitar tone. Singular notes are played with smooth accuracy, especially since most solos on record are performed with a crawling tempo bringing to mind trudging and miasmic atmosphere. They’re a desired break from the crushing tone Occulsed otherwise sport as soloing in the same vein would mar the quality they’ve already imbued into this album.
In conclusion, Occulsed’s second album is an enjoyable and impactful experience that brings their riffs and hideous soundscape round again. However Antegnosis could have been so much more if the mix was more balanced, if the full band was given their chance to shine rather than having to sneak in their spotlight moments around the riffs. The full band are audible and their strength is never in doubt any point during the twenty-eight minutes Occulsed have you in their grasp, but the maximum potential they could have reached is blocked off to them since the mix has weighed overtly towards of the guitar playing. But its length comes in handy as we understand the band aren’t here to hold us for long. I think the handling of the mix is a misstep for the record, but the band demonstrate they know how to conduct themselves and their songwriting and why I’ll be eagerly anticipating a third album.
