Thursday 11 April 2013

Katalepsy- Autopsychosis (Album Review)



Album Type : Full Length
Date Released : 8/1/2013
Label : Unique Leader Records

Autopsychosis, album tracklisting:

1. Lurking in the Depth 03:39
2. Evidence of Near Death (E.N.D.) 02:39
3. Body Bags for the Gods 03:00
4. Cold Flesh Citadel 03:41
5. The Pulse of Somnambulist 04:04
6. Unearthly Urge to Supremacy 03:37
7. Gore Conspiracy 04:00
8. Amongst Phantom Worlds 04:06
9. Needles of Hypocrisy (interlude) 01:59
10. Knifed Humility 04:23
11. Taedium Vitae 05:02

Bio

Katalepsy was born in the start of  a new era (year 2003), with strong intentions to become an original and recognized band in the brutal death metal world. First inspirations came from bands like: Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse, Disgorge, Cryptopsy and Dying Fetus.After a few local shows in autumn 2004, they recorded their first demo, “Femicide”. Later, the demo was relesed on a 4-way split-CD …with Barbarity, Posthumous Blasphemer and Smersh (on More Hate Productions).

Till year 2006 Katalepsy played a lot of gigs, made some line-up changes (new members have brought more sick influences), intensivly rehearsed, etc. They received a lot of good responses and opinions both in local gigs and outside Moscow.

In the end of 2006 Katalepsy entered Z-studio (Navahohut Sound) and started recording  the debut album “Musick Brings Injuries”, due to some problems the last songs were recorded in Zvuk I Golos studio. The CD was produced by Cannx, engineered by Arcady Navaho and finally released in the start of 2007 by SoulFlesh Collector records. The Albums style is that of  slamming brutal death metal in the vein of Devourment, Sect of Execration, Malignancy but with its own taste, original grooves and rhythms, the sound that would become a trade mark of Katalepsy.

The release has gotten great feedback from all over the world! After this Katalepsy played a lot of gigs, supported Suffocation in Moscow, tour with Jig-Ai, etc.

In the end of 2007 Katalepsy visited Z-studio (Navahohut Sound) again. There they recorded newest songs for 3-way split (with Fleshrot & Blunt Force Trauma). This songs is a broadly developed ideas of “Musick Brings Injuries”  but much more brutal, more sick and perverted. The split CD was released  by 3 labels (Grindethic rec., Pathologically Explicit Rec., SoulFlesh Collector rec.) in may 2008.  The band then  toured with Mucopus, for the support of this release and played at Mountains of Death fest in 2008 in Switzerland, one of the biggest extreme metal fests of the year.

By checking and changing line-up & tastes of Death Metal the band has finally secured their sound and presence in the scene today!

Line up
Andrey Patsionov - drums (Crop Order, Esgharioth)
Ruslan "Mirus" Iskandaroff - vocals (Crop Order)
CannX - guitar CannX - guitar
Helv - guitar Helv - guitar
Anatoly - bass Anatoly - bass

Review

Death metal, no longer just the preserve of Florida and Sweden as it once was, has reached all over the world. Moscow's Katalepsy do it better than most. “Lurking in the Depths” kicks things off fast with tech-y riffs and blast beats all in place. “Evidence of Near Death” provides no let up and the ingredients of the album- fast playing, twisting riffs and inhumanly low vocals- become apparent.

Bodybags for the Gods” is just as brutal with some nice stomping riffage thrown in for good measure.  The opening march  of “Cold Flesh Citadel” lays siege to the listener and offers some neat guitar interplay and clever changes which the rhythm section manage with aplomb. Tasteful Schuldiner-esque lead work, too. 

A mid paced start to “The Pulse of Somnambulist” does nothing to lower the brutality level and offers a good opening groove, seguing into a series of text book time changes. “Unearthly Urge of Supremacy” then blasts into earshot giving very low vocals, complex riffs and... death metal, basically. Good drum break. Lovely slowing of pace in the middle section too. The album uses dynamics well- no two tracks are the same and this is a strength. Death metal, when done by rote, can be so dull- not the case here as the tracks all have a distinct identity and don't all rely on speed for speed's sake.

“Gore Conspiracy” starts like prime era Cannibal Corpse with pinch harmonics and all. The title is also rather nifty, I'm sure you'll agree. “Needles of Hypocrisy” is two minutes of eerie guitar that serves as a bridge into “Amongst Phantom Worlds” which brings a Morbid Angel type chug to the riffs and pacing here and there.

Knifed Humility” starts fast but not without melody in the riffs. Time changes are used throughout- including over the lead work (which is sterling). “Taedium Vitae”is the album's longest track, lasting just over five minutes. It is a death metal tour de force (and the record's longest track) which shows the strengths of the band deftly and powerfully.

Tech, but not too tech, death metal for those who want brutality and the days of the early nineties to return, albeit with a modern production. Enjoy!
 

Words by: Richard Maw

As always show your support to the band. You can buy the record here. Thanks to Hammerheart records who are distributing this record for the hook up.