From their record label’s website, CABAL has through the years proved themselves as one of the heaviest and most uncompromising metal acts hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark. The bands sound is visceral and destructive and aims to bring forth absolute chaos by drawing inspiration from everything from crushing death metal, contemporary metallic hardcore and metalcore to unnerving soundscapes and dark electronic music. In regards to the new album, “just like instrumentals the lyrics are dark and direct as they detail the cyclical nature of depression, addiction and trauma, as they work through and detail deeply scarring life experiences and invite the listeners inside a dark world were everything rots and falls apart again and again and again.”

The short “Becoming Nothing” is the first song, and it is evident by the first few bars that this album will take no prisoners. “Redemption Denied” is next; twice as long but still clocking in at only three minutes long. The music is so dense, filthy, and tight, there really isn’t room for the sound to linger much. “No Peace” is another heavy and punishing song, with deadly vocals, downtuned riffs, and blast beat drums. There isn’t much space for melody in these songs, instead, it’s pedal to the metal forward. “Hellhounds” uses a bit of electronica to augment the brutal riffs, and they create a harrowing sound that helps to round out the sound. “Still Cursed” has some cadenced vocals, which isn’t uncommon for the genre. The riffs are dirty, nasty, and sleek, and the vocals come at you like a gang of hungry wolves.

“Forever Marked” is another song that uses electronica, and it marries well with the destructive Deathcore sound. “End Times” has a desperate sound to it along with the brutal leanings. Through most of the album now, it is evident that we are probably not going to get much in the market of surprises. “Snake Toungues” is so blasted heavy it rattles your head, and unsettles your soul. “Stuck” is another blast of angry black smoke that seems to come straight up from the abyss, and the vocals are cadenced again. “Beneath Blackend Skies” is the final song, and it powers forward with a battery that refuses to run low on charge. This album will take no mercy on the listener, but it is a little one-dimensional. 12 songs is also a lot to take in, if you don’t have the constitution for a repeated punishment.