Album Review: Coprolith – Putrescence

Album Review: Coprolith – Putrescence

Reviewed by Sam Jones

We’re taking a look at a younger band today. Formed out of Toronto, Canada in 2023, we have Coprolith who seek to unleash their debut studio album for a July 3rd release date. Unveiling their 2023 Demo, it’s taken the band three years to finalise this opus though a signing with Me Saco Un Ojo Records foretells promising things in Coprolith’s future. With an eye and salivation towards gore and all things unsavoury, Coprolith are poised to plunge audiences into their nightmare world, one I was excited to bear witness to.

Right out of the gate Coprolith showcase a massive slab of tone that’s sure to become the backbone to the record; there is little hope or reprieve embedded within their tone as one is hurled to the back of their seat. It’s the kind of guitar attack that hits you square on the scalp but possesses this lingering, miasmic pungency that sees notes lasting longer than other acts’ similarly cavernous onslaughts. interestingly the production has given audiences just enough space to breathe and absorb what’s happening as opposed to bludgeoning them entirely. This will aid people in appreciating what’s on display and ensure they can come back without having to mentally endure their weight.

Though Coprolith sport a crushing tone that doesn’t mean the pace is some glacial tempo. There are numerous sequences herein where the band’s performance picks up dramatic speed with little hint the songwriting is about to change up. The fact that their tempo can change at all is a blessing given the mass and strength their riffs entail, but it helps audiences by breaking up the sheer weight their sound has so there’s no instances we’ll be enticed to move on quickly. Coprolith want to subject us to this deluge provided our heads just rise above water, and whilst the greater tempo is just as virulent and ferocious it’s great to acknowledge Coprolith wanted to do more than just one kind of attack.

I love how the drums have been incorporated into the record. Rather than keep the drums to the back of the mix, or place particular emphasis on riffs alone, the drums have been granted this crashing and seismic quality where their chaos is allowed to shine. The band can throw their heaviest moments your way and these drums will instil themes pertaining to the end times; cymbals wail like angels in death throes whilst the snare is the equivalent to receiving one fiery punch after another. As you listen you’ll find the drums often hang over the rest of the band as a fiery firmament, containing their sound so little escapes.

At no time throughout Putrescence will you ever believe the band are on the brink of losing control; in fact control is an ever present feature here as Coprolith demonstrate exquisite care over every minute moment. Whatever the songwriting throws at us there’s always the indication they know what they’re doing and for what reason. There’s purpose behind every shift in songwriting and track direction or why this approach to a riff is employed etc. These tracks are consistently upwards of seven minutes long but there’s never an indication the band want to rush you along; as aforementioned they’re content to see you wallow in their depravity for as long as it takes for these tracks to reach their end.

In conclusion, Coprolith’s debut album is a massive opus that hurls you into the netherealm and keeps you there until it’s finished with you. It’s a record that reaches the zenith of its onslaught early and refuses to wane or slow for you; there’s little mercy within and given how their tempo can suddenly climb to blistering degrees it gives Putrescence a searing presence. It’s a great demonstration on how to do cavernous death metal right without beating down audiences’ capacity to enjoy such crushing extreme metal. Though the band be mighty with riff it’s far from their sole, shining feature since bass and drums are equally commanding and riveting for keeping audiences in place as their songwriting bowls over us. Given that this is the band’s first album it’s exciting to contemplate what the future may store for them. Highly recommended.

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