Right from the start, the ominous tone of the guitars and the slow rumbling drums sets a bleak mood for the opening track “Premonition” as the guttural bellows ooze with morbid death metal riffs. The musicianship on the album is semi-technical, it seems however the drumming and scorching riffs are incredibly emphasized. Phobocosm perfectly blends brutal double bass and ferocious blasting sections with a claustrophobic and uncanny ambiance to create a dark, menacing effect. The ferocity continues on the following track “Primal Dread” then imbues plenty of tremolo riffing and dark chords at a slower pace where the composition comes together in a masterful guitar work.

The sound on this album is steeped in a doom-death metal-styled song structure that dominates the atmosphere before blasting out some frenetic blast beats in your face. The riffing patterns contain catchy and gloomy riffs, and the drums are stand-out in showcasing ridiculous fills. The monochromatic manner of the songwriting is worthy of mentioning, but Phobocosm unleashes a relentless fury with their ability to simulate the style of Incantation. This somehow brings many crushing moments on “Everlasting Void” which begins with atonal bleak riffs and the suffocating atmosphere. “Foreordained” is a monstrous brutal album that sets itself apart from the previous releases and often focuses on the brooding riffs and there is also another aspect that mixes dissonant patterns.

The effort Phobocosm puts into the riffs is a worthy mention. Now and then you’ll hear a doom-laden riff prove to be another element as prevalent as the tremolo-picking. The double bass work is fast and is constantly and ferociously blasting away when the tempo shifts, with the main riff dominating the atmosphere. Some complex drums are utilized in “Infomorph” where they contrast to the swelling of the magmatic riffs. However, I would say that “Foreordained” most likely appeals to fans who like their death metal slow, brutal, and doomy.

This is because the songs are saturated with crushing percussion and dark brooding riffs, while there are other elements of dissonance and tremolos infused into the music that add layers to the bleak sludgy atmosphere. The almost soporific effect of the brooding riffs on “Revival” injects blazing guitar patterns into the wall of sound and conjures up a sense of menace. The layers of dissonance and the blast beats soon become more apparent, even with the pace slowing down as the insane drumming offers clinical beats. A malevolent atmosphere laden with catchy riffs tends to go along with the lower grunts, slowly building up some doom-laden paces.

Having some of the heaviest death metal releases this year, Phobocosm’s third full-length does everything but never disappoints. Each of the songs has a unique feel especially suited to sound dark and twisted which reminds me of early Immolation, the guttural grunts are brought with a roar of beast. The morbid sepulchral atmosphere inflicts the listener by combining the chunky death metal style of old school. The dynamic changes are carefully measured and followed by churning riffs, but there is undeniable inspiration to bands like Krypts. Songs on the album proceed slowly like a funereal march into the realms of death with the eerie guitar riff adding quality to the composition, Phobocosm manifests great songwriting standards.

Although there isn’t much variety in the songwriting, the remarkable musicianship of the final track “For an Aeon” stands out for the eerie atmosphere. The palpable tone of the bass guitar is in tandem with the crushing drums, and the coherent performance provides a grand death metal opus for the audience. The drumming kicks off at a frenetic pace and follows the same unique tone of the lumbering riffs that bring a dark and brooding soundtrack to the apocalypse. “Foreordained” demonstrates a great achievement in combining elements of doom and death metal, which allows the instruments to shine.

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