It has been a couple of years since we've heard from the British Extreme metallers DE PROFUNDIS, but this year sees them back in full force with their first EP and a brand new album on the way. With a musical style that seems to be in a state of constant flux, the new four-track EP, entitled "Frequencies", sees DE PROFUNDIS moving away from their more Doom Metal roots, veering more and more towards Progressive Death Metal.

More technical than their previous works, "Frequencies" seems to pay homage to DEATH's later works. Launching straight into the deep-end with "A Strange Awakening", the listener is taken through a swirl of time signature changes carried on the wings of tempestuous riffage that leaves you reeling. The guttural growls that carry the song do seem to be overpowered by the guitaring in the first half, seemingly battling against the guitars. However, this gets better towards the end of this track with the competition giving way to a more co-ordinated effort. The next song takes a darker twist, containing a frantic fury which is perfectly balanced by the sheer technical flair. The solos in "Illumination" add variation to the track, making an already good track that much stronger. And with "Singularity", we are launched into the last original composition of the EP. Clearly determined to go out swinging, the scale-driven opening spirals the listener along, with the drumming really coming to the fore in this song. This song seems to be the most balanced on the EP in terms of musicianship, with each member playing an integral part that amalgamates into a blossoming track that really shows off what DE PROFUNDIS are capable of.

The final song, "Crystal Mountain" is a close cover of DEATH's classic from the "Symbolic" album. Choosing to stick with the more complex drum and guitar sections of the original song, DE PROFUNDIS have taken the pace up a notch, whilst leaving out the acoustic sections at the end of the song. All in all, an excellent cover that manages to find the middle ground between remaining true to the original whilst still giving the song a unique twist. At the risk of sounding blasphemous, this cover easily rivals the original!

Overall, the drums and vocals provide the backbone of the music, with the guitars and bass truly bringing the songs to life. I enjoyed the fact that the EP has a very organic feel to it, with seemingly very little tweaking having been done post-recording. With the entire EP being available for free on the band's Bandcamp profile, you really have no excuse not to check out this teaser for what is to come later this year, when DE PROFUNDIS release their anticipated fourth full-length album. I for one eagerly anticipate it!