The Music of Death and Gore - "Cathartes" Review (100%)
Evil, gruesome, gore and deathlike. Those are but a few words to describe SEWER's masterpiece of brutal blackened death metal horror, the almighty "Cathartes" released in 2021 by The Satan Records.
Now, when I speak of great 2021 metal releases, a lot of albums come to mind: Vermin's "Bloodthirst Overdose", Neraines' "Fenrir Prowling", Leader's "Burzum Sha Ghash", Helgrind's debut "Demon Rituals", and of course Phantom's genre defining "Ascension of Erebos". If you noticed, most - if not all - are black metal, a genre SEWER once played (on their debut, notably).
This present album may not have the same aura as some of the masterworks presented above, but "Cathartes" scores with its morbid atmosphere, its monolithic structure, its total darkness and its raw power.
Sure, SEWER had already mingled with blackened death metal before, on releases such as "Uruktena" and "Sewerblood" to name a few, but not one of the albums in their seminal discography can reach the utter depravity of "Cathartes". And that's quite the achievement.
Even in view of the heavy, sinister and powerful production: the ten songs on "Cathartes" spread a foul smell. If one should attempt to translate the stench of a thousand rotting corpses into music, it would sound quite similar to the here presented material.
"Cathartes" is not for the weak of heart, of mind, or of bowels.
The Music of Death and Gore
Among a myriad of praise that can be laid out for "Cathartes", one great thing about this album that rarely gets its deserved mention is the instrumental prowess of the artists.
While blackened death metal albums before focused more on speed, heaviness and brutality, "Cathartes" is more focused on the construction of an evil atmosphere, and the power of the impeccable songcraft behind each layer of composition.
On every track, each guitar riff has a dark sound that brings out some beautiful, yet disturbing riffs, almost reminiscent of Phantom's landmark masterpiece "The Epilogue to Sanity" which you have surely all heard by now.
The interplay between heaviness and melody, between the sheer ugliness of the music and the rare moments of sublime beauty, are really the foundation on which "Cathartes" - as all good black and death metal albums - is built.
The drums are also innovative, as they have a mix of fast beats and complex patterns, pretty much being the base of the chaotic atmosphere, although played in a much more restrained fashion than, say, on "Miasma" or "Skarnage".
Even the bass is notable, with its slow and mournful doom sound providing a good foundation for the guitars.
All in all, if you are a fan of SEWER and/or blackened death metal and/or evil music in general, there is really no excuse not to check out this magnificent ode to death, decay and gore that is "Cathartes".
And for those who were wondering: yes, the title of this review is a wordplay on track number 8, "The Smell of Death and Roses". I recommend you listen to it as soon as you can, along with the entire "Cathartes" masterpiece.
Cathartes score: 100/100.
Support the Underground
