Band:	Organectomy
Album:	Existential Disconnect
Style:	Brutal death metal
Release date:	June 2019

01. Severed From Humanity
02. Existential Disconnect
03. Antithetical
04. No Solace In Ascendance
05. Catastrophic Intent
06. The Agony Of Godhood
07. Unending Regrowth
08. Where Pantheons Lie I: Malfeasance
09. Where Pantheons Lie II: Conviction
10. Anguish In Lamina
11. The Infinite Witness

If your pessimism of the metal scene has reached critical levels, just know that even slam death bands are actually writing songs these days instead of just simple four-minute breakdowns. You ignorant ungrateful slut.

Organectomy burst onto the scene with their full-length debut, Domain Of The Wretched, released back in 2017 after a promising EP dropped a few years prior. It signified -- alongside contemporary up-and-coming slam bands -- a cultural shift compared to the genre's origins, focusing more on compositions and development rather than the basic breakdown buildup approach that had been a staple of the style for so many years. Having replaced some of the traditional deathcore foundations of its sound and branching out into the technically proficient and accessible flow of brutal death metal, this New Zealand outfit bridged the gap masterfully without losing an ounce of its bloodlust edge. This more forward-thinking focus can be attributed to the album's title and cover art, which depicts in a futuristic/post-apocalyptic setting, a man being forced to absorb energies doled out by god-like creatures representative of good, evil, and chaos.

Existential Disconnect follows the path laid before it in the most direct and seamless way, infused with an emphasis on melodic solos and catchy riffs previously almost completely foreign to this genre. Having helped blaze these trails being currently trod upon, it's no surprise this otherwise entirely relentless offering of sheer brutality features some genuine and practical structure, as opposed to the mindless aggression fans have come to rely on over the years. This isn't to say Organectomy are some Dream Theater slam equivalent or anything, but when compared with the likes of Cephalotripsy and other gut-wrenching mutilation-fetishist bands on the market in the past decade, there's a noticeable adventurousness to their riffs that never seemed to be considered years back.

All of the slam staples remain, despite the ongoing praise for this album's unique, rejuvenating approach. Guttural bowel-moving growls, hardcore down-tuned breakdowns, intense cymbal and bass drum abuse. It's everything you already know. The rhythmic groove and bouncy riffs help alleviate the blunt force trauma issued against the back of your skull -- courtesy of an outstanding mix that gives a hearty grit to the guitars while incorporating a hefty bass tone. It makes for a somewhat wall of sound effect at times, but it works well within the context of the album. Existential Disconnect sets out to replace the elevator music you hear while being transported to whatever level of Hell you've been relegated to depending on whatever level of debauchery you partook in during your repugnant existence on this dying planet, and it's a worthy successor.

You may not think spending 50 minutes in the confines of a jailor renowned for its excessive brutality would be an enjoyable experience, but Organectomy ensure enough of a varied and surprisingly nuanced experience (given the genre) that the assumed inundation and boredom going in are nothing more than unfair prejudices concocted by onlookers without any knowledge of the flawless prison system's inner workings.