Album Review: Cordyceps - Betrayal
Reviewed by Tim Finch
The death metal genre is an over crowded one these days with bands pushing the boundaries trying to make a name for themselves. This is no bad thing, however it does mean that the sound of some bands is something far removed from that of the genres founding fathers. So when a new band comes along claiming to have an old school death metal sound it makes a number of the traditional fans stand up and take notice.
Cordyceps make just that claim! The Las Vegas, Nevada natives formed in 2014 and spent the first few years of their existence honing their sound which resulted in their debut E.P. Now in 2020 they return with the full length ‘Betrayal’ on Unique Leader Records. The group describe the recording as “the representation of the place the mind can go when confronted with the challenges of depression and anger”. Some deep and complex subjects to be covered in the most brutal forms of music.
A haunting instrumental intro, ‘Cursed Are They’, leads us into the record. ‘Parallel Dissonance’ is where the group show us what they are really about. Musically they certainly live up to that old school death metal tag. Aggressive riffs and a bludgeoning drum line batter the senses but then Rafael’s vocals kick in. And my god do they kick in! Gutteral in every sense of the word; these vocals come from the depths of hell - dark, demonic growls almost overshadowing the music.The album progresses in a similar vein. The introduction to ‘The Abyss’ almost cinematic in sound, painting a picture in the listeners mind as the band kicks in. Title track ‘Betrayal’ standing out from the crowd as the perfect track on the album.
If old school death metal, in the vein of Cannibal Corpse, is your thing then you will thoroughly enjoy ‘Betrayal’ as a well rounded example of how the old school sound fits so well in amongst today’s more modern twists on the death metal genre.
Cordyceps release 'Betrayal' via Unique Leader on April 10th.
