Review Summary: Into new, prog(ish) territory
Few old-school death metal bands have made such an impression on the underground scene in the second half of the last decade as Canada's Tomb Mold. Not exactly for their out-of-the-box take on the genre, but for how they blend a wide range of influences from both sides of the Atlantic into a cohesive and exciting formula. The title track off their sophomore album,
Manor of Infinite Forms, somehow sums up the band's scope by combining 1990s American and Finnish death metal in a contemporary recipe with a modern twist. A comprehensive approach that has evolved over a short period of time (2016 - 2019) towards greater sophistication and technical refinement, both musically and production-wise.
Planetary Clairvoyance's more polished yet atmospheric nature and its varied song structures have allowed the band to push their sonic boundaries even further, while sending the message that they will not fall into creative loops or overly predictable territory. An unwritten rule that has since been confirmed by last year’s three-track release,
Aperture of Body, and now by Tomb Mold's third full-length, The
Enduring Spirit, which strays from the original path to explore more techy, progressive soundscapes. Although bands like Death, Cynic or Atheist (Unquestionable Presence-era) were already part of the band's influences, never had the prog(ish) layer taken on such a preponderant role, now being the stylistic core through which the music orbits.
I must confess I didn't immediately fall for
The Enduring Spiritʼs adventurous personality, either due to the element of surprise or for purely aesthetic reasons, such as the constant overlapping of gutturals and guitar leads that often run over each other, jamming the music unnecessarily, not letting it breathe. Overlays aren't necessarily detrimental, particularly in more progressive formulas, nor am I someone who believes all music must have oxygen, but they don't always fit well with the band's new approach to songwriting, at least in my eyes. That said, and despite its inconsistencies,
The Enduring Spirit is much more than an occasional juxtaposition; it not only embodies the boys' will to move forward without repeating themselves, but it is also imaginatively bold and inquisitive, not hesitant to take chances or break with the past. The otherworldly soft, clean passage in the second half of 'Will Of Whispers' is the most accomplished illustration of the band's new face, along with the multiple techy segments, which not only draw from the early 90s classics but also from more recent or even contemporary sources, such as Gorod (Leading Vision-era) and Blood Incantation, respectively. A recipe that takes Tomb Mold out of yesterday's filthy OSDM caverns and throws them into Horrendous territory.
The Enduring Spirit is a journey of contrasts that swings between the two ends of the spectrum. While the 11-minute track 'The Enduring Spirit of Calamity' showcases the calmer, more atmospheric side of the album and Derrick Vella's enthusiasm for extended solos, 'Angelic Fabrications' and 'Flesh As Armour' highlight its heavier, more temperamental facet. And it's in these hot-blooded moments that I keep finding Tomb Mold's greatest strengths and the segments that thrill me the most, be they the frenetic kick-off and subsequent slow-paced Gorod-ish section in the opener, 'The Perfect Memory (Phantasm Of Aura), the tasty syncopated groove on 'Angelic Fabrications', or the uptempo passages in songs like 'Fate’s Tangled Thread' and 'Flesh As Armour', with the latter featuring Max Klebanoff's best performance. As a matter of fact, never has Max shone as brightly as he does now or been so in sync with Derrick's riffing, with the combo often operating as a single organism. A renewed synergy boosted by a clean yet organic production, suitable for the more technical and progressive musical direction.
While not without its songwriting inconsistencies,
The Enduring Spirit has the supreme merit of forging ahead and exploring new prog(ish) territory, unafraid to take risks or sow distrust and confusion among the more conservative fanbase. And that alone is much more important than my or your assessment of it, as it embodies the very essence of the (enduring) creative spirit.
