AD PATRES is a death metal band from France, who formed in 2008. Their latest release, “Unbreathable,” is their third full-length album; they have also released a demo and a split. I reviewed their previous album, 2019’s “A Brief Introduction To Human Experiments,” and gave it high praise. But it’s been five long years and a few line up changes. Can “Unbreathable” stack up against its predecessor. In short? Yes, yes it it does! Guitarist, and main composer, Oliiver Bousquet and vocalist Axel Doussaud remain in the band and their influence continues to push the band forward. Olivier continues to be almost inhumanly capable of melding brutal and technical riffs into a cohesive sound that grows old. Axel’s vocals are still extremely effective; brutal with a ton of energy but also intelligible to a degree.

Alsvid, who also plays with SETH, did record drums on this album as well but he apparently left the band afterwards. He went out on a high note and his presence will be missed, and I wish him luck, but his legacy will always be felt. His drum tone is brutal and beefy but also rich and deep….some the best sounding drums I’ve heard in death meal this year. He is technical and brutal but not in a flashy or overhand way. His sound melds expertly into the sounds and offers an insane foundation. Fortunately, “newcomers” Mathieu Larroudé (bass) and SylverA (guitars) fit right in, each of them zeroed on providing the band with its signature sound. SylverA matches Olivier’s fervor and, together, many, many badass riffs are applied. Mathieu is a beast on bass, offering a huge, hungry style.

After a basic intro which doesn’t offer much, the band jumps into it with the first full track, “The Dream Chaser.” I believe this was a single as well and it’s easy to understand why. The song represents a band with renewed energy, firing on cylinders. The riffs are just groovy enough, complimented by the drums, as speed increases almost immediately for bursts of brutality before settling back into the groove. The band still impresses with how they handle technical aspects with more straightforward ones. The song, much like the album as a whole, remains fresh and catchy throughout. “Deserter,” is one of my favorite songs on the album because it’s the penultimate AD PATRES song. If someone asked me what this band sounds like, I’d suggest this song. Its technical flourishes drift in and out brutal speed and grooves so seamlessly that it doesn't even seem real or possible. But it is real and it is very possible–AD PATRES continue to impress with their well integrated sound. This band knows their craft, knows what they want to play, and they always go for the throat.

“Chapter X” is one of their most brutal songs to date; the drumming is especially sweltering and I was exhausted just listening to it. The vocals get super low in places, but remain biting and venomous. The slower moment around the 1:23 mark is brief but effective in using the groove to connect the faster pieces of the song together. The solo is wild…crazy and technical but it still makes sense within the context of the song. That’s really the special aspect of the album…everything always makes sense because each note, each growl, is always placed exactly where it needs to be. “The Medium” is another highlight for me, I love the low grooves that open the song. I also love the voracious drumming that complement these riffs...this song sounds truly massive. Going back and forth between mid-paced grooves and more up tempo passage of technical brutality really reminds me of a lot of SUFFOCATION but with a more modern touch.

The final song, “Deus Deceptorr” is the band going for broke. From the opening moments to the last note, this song just doesn’t stop. Some of the movements, such as the final run that begins at the 3:56 mark, are among the most intense, and insane, moments in the band’s history. All in all, even with a few years between releases and a couple of new members, AD PATRES hasn’t skipped a beat and their core sound remains intact. “Unbreathable,” solidifies the band’s legacy and moves them forward at the same time.