Misanthropy is a death metal band from Chicago, Illinois who formed in 2012. Their latest release, “The Ever-Crushing Weight of Stagnance,” is their third full-length album; they have also released a demo, an EP, a split and a live album. This band has been labeled as tech death but what I’m hearing here is far more progressive. I know the two genres often have a thin line between them but I feel this one offers far more adventurous avenues than just standard technical prowess. Apparently, the album was recorded live and I think that has definitely helped the album be as amazing as it is; the songs feel alive and as if the band is in the room as me. It’s a dense album that will require a lot of spins to get through these layers. Every detail comes very naturally but with so much going on, I felt the need to listen to it a lot so I could hear everything. I chalk that up as well written songs with depth rather than having to trudge through. If anything, I was more than happy to listen to this album over and over.

There is a thrash metal feel to the album too, and according to their metallum page, they used to play that genre. I can certainly hear that foundation in their music. With that being said, the album isn’t always very fast or chugging. It’s actually very moody in places with slower tempos used to build the songs. It isn’t doom or anything but I like the fact the band doesn’t feel the need to always focus on being frantic and playing a million miles an hour. I like music that takes its time to seep in, to really put its feelers out there and dig deep. “The Ever-Crushing Weight of Stagnance,” is definitely such an album. The album begins with “Of Sulking and the Wrathful,” and fully displays its riff based approach to its proggy tech. In between the flourishing riffs, the guitar tone digs in hard so we get a really dark album at all times even when they are standing outside the box. The vocals are pretty disgusting and have no complaints about them, as this style is exactly what I want with something is brutal.

Around the two minute mark, the band syncs up and their rhythm machine steam rolls through with a surprisingly catchy passage; moments like this are when the album really shines. The middle portion leans heavily on technical displays of might as the song races to the finish line with filthy riffs. “A Cure For The Pestilence,” immediately hits the wall at a thousand miles per hour. The guitars and drums are precise but fluid enough to where, ironically considering the album’s title, don’t become stagnant. The song’s rising action culminates in a righteous fury of mauling riffs and galloping riffs. But wait there’s more! Groove, groove, and more groove rises like a mountain, a stark monolith in this alien world. A melodic passage near the end of the song leads into an insane guitar solo…..mind blowing!

“Descent” is one of my favorites on the album, not the least because of the bass. The overall atmosphere embraces its namesake, a descent into madness. In the beginning, the slow tempo and the use of clean tones really sets this song apart early on. Remains interesting throughout with the tempo providing an ebb and flow that makes it all quite insane. The last minute and forty-four seconds is one of the album’s highlights. Everything sounds cohesive yet on the verge of collapse. The slow, bludgeon of an ending caps it off in the best way possible The final song, “Consumed By The Abyss,” is utterly mesmerizing. The sea of double bass, the dismal riffs, abrasive vocals…everything comes together for this final act. The lead guitar laces the song with technical details, but the rhythm keeps the song beefy. It's a dichotomy that works in the band’s favor as they seem to live in two worlds at once without losing potency in either.

Misanthropy’s “The Ever-Crushing Weight of Stagnance,” is a tech/prog death metal album that dances to its own beat to create music that is imaginative and brutal.