Ancient Death was formed in 2021 and is currently signed to Profound Lore Records. The band has introduced itself with an EP, “Sacred Vessel” and a demo released in 2024. The full-length album “Ego Dissolution” features members from bands like Atheist and Cruciamentum. However, their approach to death metal showcases progression, technicality, and instrumental passages that dip your ears into the cosmic conundrum of the vast universe.

The opening track “Ego Dissolution” meticulously crafts these harmonic guitar structures, with rhythm guitars and melodies enhancing the atmospheric flow. The lineup is comprised of Jasmine Alexander (bass, vocals), Derek Malone Moniz (drums), Ray Brouwer (guitars), and Jerry Witunsky (guitars, vocals).

Listen to “Breaking the Barriers of Hope”. You will hear how the drums create heaviness, and the guitar riffs blend jazz influences with the bass tone. Musically adventurous, Ancient Death obtains heaviness and technicality through juxtaposing the eerie rhythm guitars and leads; the drums are played fast and often transition to blast beats.

The drums change the tempos very often, and it’s something that the band makes you think about what they will bring next to keep you hooked to their technicality and composition that wrought a kind of galactic effect in the song “Breathe Transcend (Into the Glowing Streams of Forever)”. Ancient Death thrills you with the contrasting elements of the atmospheric qualities that are cleverly placed with the female vocal section, the riffs are so well orchestrated and multi-layered to infuse a progressive feel.

The three-minute cut “Journey to the Inner Soul” is focused on complex songwriting, and atmospheric interludes start with catchy guitars. Its memorable song structure illustrates cosmic-themed guitar riffs that mirror the quality of the guitar solos. The riffs are brutal and creep into the atmospheric richness of the changing tempo, bassist and vocalist Jasmine Alexander steals the highlight on “Echoing Chambers within the Dismal Mind,” her role switching between the death metal growls and the soothing, serene vocals.

“Unspoken Oath” highlights the percussion progression, not to mention the insane and off-kilter guitar solos. The guitars launch into savage death metal, the riffs rely on mid-paced and complex guitar work that is constantly changing from one tempo to another, and there are so many memorable guitar riffs worth mentioning.

Ancient Death consistently delves into epic soundscapes before the drums launch double bass pedals and blast beats, hence, these elements make the variation quality stand out on several tracks. The guitars combine rhythm, melodies, and brutal riffage with the cosmic soundscapes adding a touch of classic technical and prog death metal; the only thing that feels out of place are the growls, which could have been better.

The slow guitar effect in the opening of “Disincarnate” reminds me of Blood Incantation. I can confidently say that Ancient Death has found its niche on its debut full-length album. The spacey guitar interlude paints a desolate luminous sphere that projects a celestial life somewhere in a distant galaxy, then moves into the longest track, “Violet Light Decays”.

The epic heaviness of the guitar and the drums is perfectly delivered, showing how the band can sound obscure and technical, with its crushing riffs and pounding drums that provide depth. The drumming carries the song into odd-sounding guitar chords while melding progressive rock and tech death metal. The unique guitar work and the drums are all over the place, but maintain a rhythmic pace throughout the track and build a steady pace till the final moments.

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