Ageless Summoning – Corrupting the Entempled Plane

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Scotland and England based death metal five-piece Ageless Summoning debuted their first studio album “Corruption the Entempled Plane” on July 21st, 2023, via Dark Descent Records. Having the notion of sounding raw and otherworldly in the way of the early wave of Finnish and U.S. death metal, Ageless Summoning aptly invokes the themes of atmospheric death metal. The band's lineup consists of Derek Wright (bass guitar), Hamish Mackintosh (drums), Gregg Cowell (guitars), Ali Lauder (vocals) and Rory Strachan (guitars).

Despite the slowdown pace in the album’s opening track “Usurper of the Void” the coursing subterranean undertones engulf the plodding drums and put focus on rhythm guitars. Ageless Summoning delivers a sense of originality that shows unique qualities in the songwriting. However, one can quickly grasp the influences of Trey Azagthoth‘s (Morbid Angel) guitar solos, which conjure bizarre melodies. The overall sound is emphasized by ultra-chugging riffs and the heaviness of the drums that contribute to the sound. “Descent From the Infinite” is soaked in ominous growls that complement the dark atmosphere of the album, the drums are given enough space to shine through the songs and are the backbone of the rumbling guitars.

The driving force behind this endeavor is the guitarists Rory Strachan and Gregg Cowell who show some great talent. While a track like “Epoch of Souls” brings some engrossing moments to the double kick drums and the chugging guitars. Ageless Summoning demonstrates some great knacks the slower moments are more crucial and effective in creating the right atmosphere for the song, with rhythm guitars and the double bass drums working in harmony and the chugging riffs always adding thick textures to the whole sound. The solos erupt and swirl like tentacles and while each riff is laden with deathly hooks there is nothing more than to immerse yourself with the growing atmosphere.

 

Among the Worms” begins with a heavy menacing riff adding heaviness to the mid-paced tempo, and the plodding drums steering peculiar solos. There is some kind of appeal to the rhythm and the bizarre melody when the solos are unleashed. Powerful guitar riffs laden with thick tremolos picked riffs as the whole attention shifted to the intense drumming on the album’s title track “Corruption the Entempled Plane”. The superlative tone of the guitars is steeped in sonic obscurity, allowing the music to transcend its boundaries with a flowing dark mood. The growling of Ali Lauder sets in the unworldly theme of the lyrics, Ageless Summoning aimed to convey some interesting material on its debut album.

The drumming on the other hand always builds up to eruptive moments and delivers some brutal paces, though there is more to the solo work in the song itself that conjures intricate patterns. “Incarnate Nothingness” and “Towards the Fractal Absolute” are stand-out tracks full of brutal drumming fills from the merciless onslaught of the blasting drums and the double pedal attacks. These intense blasts perfectly manifest plenty of atmosphere that emulates the style of Morbid Angel, while the latter brings the powerful ferocity of the drums.

The vocals play a perfect role in conveying an obscure feeling, but the atmospheric appeal of the guitars on the track “Retribution Eternal” imbues a dark cosmic background to the slow drums. This is one of the highlights of the album and is saturated with the elements of cosmic death metal. Kudos to the eccentric lead guitar work. The feral tone of the growls pursues the classic modus operandi of the old-school Finnish death metal. The production also enhances the sound of the instruments, especially the bass guitar.

Though it feels like the vocals are upfront in favor of the drums, the whole mix is perfectly balanced. Ageless Summoning managed to bring the effectiveness of its songwriting into a professional technique, and I mean the old-school way, not the modern method. While “Invocation” serves as an intro to the closing track “Salvation In Ash” which opens with a dark riff. The slow sludgy segments are accompanied by a full-bodied drumbeat and veer into a slower section. The bellowing growls keep the song more gripping and create a wall of sound that slowly swallows you down in a pitch-black vortex.

REVIEW SCORE

  • Music / Songwriting 8/10
  • Vocals / Lyrics 8/10
  • Mix / Production 9/10
  • Artwork & Packaging 8/10
  • Originality 8/10
8.2

“Corrupting the Entempled Plane” transports you into the outer realms of alien spheres. This is a great debut from the Scotland-England-based death metal band and truly deserves the recognition.

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