Thaetas - Shrines To Absurdity



Thanks to Spotify Discover, I discovered the debut album 'Shrines Of Absurdity' by New York-based technical death metal band Thaetas, released on the 26th of June by Maggot Stomp Records. And it is, without a doubt, death metal album of the year.

 


Tracklist:
1. All Consuming Dread
2. Blood Distillery
3. Dearth
4. Shrines To Absurdity
5. Thith
6. Disassociated
7. Envy The Stillborn
8. Isixhenxe
9. Greenhaven

The problem with death metal is its audibility. If you can't hear what the musicians are actually doing, the record becomes merely a vague tremor in the air. Having said that, I understand that there are masterpieces/genres that thrive on shitty quality, Darkthrone's 'A Blaze In The Northern Sky' for example, but with death metal, it's a different story. Death metal is based on technicality creating an atmosphere. Thaetas is doing that by letting us hear every riff, every bassline every drum part (with help from master engineer Colin Marston). They never rush it if they don't have to, they take their time with guiding you to the next part. That's why I like this album so much, it's like an improv jazz record, a jazzy Suffocation. 

And for the record, I like jazz. It's music that's so inspiring and creative and that's why 'None So Vile' speaks to me in a way that Miles Davis did. If it weren't for Miles Davis and Cryptopsy's groundbreaking records, Thaetas wouldn't have made such a great album.

The record is packed with memorable riffs, insane vocals precisely placed solos, grooves and breaks that make you want to mosh and break something. Check out songs like 'Dearth', 'Thith' and 'Isixhenxe' (the number 7 in the Xhosa language).  

'Shrines Of Absurdity' is my go-to death metal record for the rest of the year. It is so interesting what's happening in every song. This band is in total control over their instruments, and they show that in a manner that's not excessive. And because of that, they made a flawless death metal record.




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