One of the most potential death metal acts in underground extreme metal today is the Canadian death metal duo Perilaxe Occlusion. The group’s second demo ‘Raytraces of Death‘ is one of the heaviest death metal releases I’ve heard this year. The three tracks are built on an obscure amalgamation of Finnish and Swedish death metal. The band’s name and lyrical themes come from the 3D modeling technique called “Parallax Occlusion mapping”. Formed in 2020 by XE (drums), XT (guitars, lyrics, and bass) and a guest session vocalist Ti who also appeared on the debut. Shortly after releasing its first demo ‘Exponential Decay’ in 2020, the duo wrote three new tracks that materialized to comprise the otherworldly spectrum of old-school doom metal.

Perilaxe Occlusion’s heaviness and technicality don’t only come from the massive guitar tone or the pummeling rampage of the drums. The songs transition from the mid-tempo pace bringing an intense reverb from colossal riffs charged by heavy distortion. Each section seamlessly blends into the next crushing tempo through various shifts in the drum pace and the deep horrifying grunts of the vocals. The opening track ‘Fracturing the Voronoi‘ is noticeable through its frequent alteration in rapid changes, breakdowns and swift blast beats. Despite the muddy sound production, the guitars expel corrosive riffs while the overwhelming drums bludgeon with potent blows. The duo successfully manages to sculpture some of the most obscure forms of death metal with sludge elements providing monumental reverb to the riffs.   

The murkiness and the dense atmosphere brought into the following track ‘Incalculable Thresholds‘ is weighted with the inflicted chaos of the heavy percussion. Though the quality here is superbly conveyed, Perilaxe Occlusion‘s musical perspective channels the depth and the nebulous atmosphere of bands such as Demilich and the filthy cavernous leads of Tomb Mold. For the kind of death metal music they play, the Canadian duo delivers something different from the stereotype bands. Although there are many straightforward blasting sections carried out by the drums, what’s so peculiar about the riffs is that they sound eerie and loaded with catchy lead guitars.  

The lead guitars are embroidered in the song structure while the unearthly segment of the guitars lays a kind of ghostly rhythm. Many of these riffs are rooted in obscure Finnish death metal indicating the direct influences from the Scandinavian bands. Despite the organic performance, there are some slower tempos that stimulate heavy doom sections. Although the songs on ‘Raytraces of Death‘ fit together cohesively, they are overshadowed by the thickness of the guitars and the old school brutality. The final track ‘Geometric Dismemberment‘ is laden with slow, trudging sections of death/doom metal. It also contains a formidable amount of blast beats. Midway through the track, everything slows down where the atmospheric guitars become awash with the dark and gloomy aura of the lead guitars.

Perilaxe Occlusion’s second demo is released via Debemur Morti Productions since June 25th, 2021. This is yet another fine output from these Canadian duo’s who achieved a remarkable performance. 

Release Date: June 25th, 2021
Label: Debemur Morti Productions
Tracklist:

1. Fracturing The Voronoi
2. Incalculable Thresholds
3. Geometric Dismemberment