On March 27, 2020, CHRONICLE will release their second full-length album "Demonology." CHRONICLE is a Danish band that formed in 2012. Since then, they have released music fairly consistently. Aside from their debut album "Primordial Fear" released in 2015, they also have two EPs "Welcome the Darkness" and "Memento Mori" released in 2014 and 2016, respectively.

CHRONICLE's music is best categorized as technical melodic death metal, with some thrash and black metal influences showing through in the fast pacing. The guitar work is excellent and varied, ranging from chuggy riffs to wailing solos. The drums maintain a fast pace and supplies interesting fills at key points. The bass guitar has a few distinct parts, but mainly provides a low rumble throughout the album. There are some slower heavy sections, but no outright breakdowns that have become common with similar bands that toe the line between death metal and deathcore.

As "I Believe (Intro)" is only an intro track, the second track "They Have Returned" is the first one of substance. It's a good opener as it demonstrates what the album is all about. This track wouldn't be out of place on a technical melodic death metal album released within the last decade. The fifth track "Living Hellscape" stood out to me after listening to the album a few times. Acoustic guitar bookends the track, which distinguishes it from the rest of the album. The acoustic guitar also contrasts nicely to the "djent" palm muted guitar riff. This track was the inspiration for the artwork done by Pär Olofsson, who has also provided the album artwork for dozens of other bands.

Next is the sixth track, "Taxidermic Divinity." On this track, I love the lengthy tapping guitar solo outro. Another song that stands out to me on this record is "Perpetuation of Addiction." It's an instrumental track, which I usually enjoy. This track is no exception to that rule. To me, instrumental tracks are a good way to gauge a band's musical and song writing ability (excluding atmosphere-setting instrumental tracks). "Perpetuation of Addiction" is somewhat long at six minutes in duration, but it's full of fantastic guitar work and intricate drumming.

Overall, I would recommend "Demonology" to fans of death metal, specifically the technical and melodic variety, such as ALLEGAEON and CHILDREN OF BODOM. CHRONICLE blends technicality and melody very well to produce really enjoyable death metal.