The million dollar question that arises when a band that has been active for over 35 years only succeeds in releasing their third studio album to date is what the reasons were why they haven't been able to produce more music. in this case we're talking about the Polish band INSIDIUS (yes, without the O), who have given the Death Metal public the albums "Shadows Of Humanity" in 2016 and "Infamia" in 2018. Now it is time for their third instalment "Vulgus Illustrata" to hit the streets and make sure that everybody knows that they are coming at you will full force.

I am only a few seconds into listening to "Vulgus Illustrata" when I have to concur and admit that there is no doubt at all that I am listening to a Death Metal album. And what's more, I like the sound that INSIDIUS uses, love the way the vocals of Rafał "Tasio" Tasak compliment the music and enjoy the way the music is menacing, dark, threatening and very much in your face, whilst also maintaining a degree of familiarity and recognition. Plus I am simply blown away at the speeds at which the drummer is hitting his drumkit. This man Michał Andrzejczyk must be at least half machine.

As for the songs themselves, they are all excellently put together. They all have a solid foundation on which the instruments can excel, are all blessed with a solid body that demands respect and are all written, played and recorded at the right speed and length. Nowhere do you get the feeling that the any of the songs on "Vulgus Illustrata" should have ended earlier. I think that some of these tunes would have benefitted by being expanded, but only by a margin. In that respect you can't fault the song writing within INSIDIUS.

So, as you might have deduced from my ramblings, I actually like what I hear. To me everything that is on "Vulgus Illustrata" has been done just right. And the fact that after just over 38 minutes my only thought is to play the record again, will tell you more than enough. I think (and hope the band does too) that INSIDIUS have been successful in giving the (in my case) unsuspecting audience a bloody good portion of devastating and overpowering Death Metal. Now my interest is piqued, I', eager to find out if their older material is just as impressive. But alas, I haven't been able to answer my initial question. But I don't care, as I get to enjoy "Vulgus Illustrata" again and again.