DEVOURER was formed by Swedish multi-instrumentalist John Falk in 2002. His debut LP "All Hope Abandon" came out in 2013. That record showcased an exciting combination of influences. DEVOURER took a little from everyone but never from anyone in particular. It was a fast and aggressive Black Metal record infused with interesting Extreme Death Metal elements. However, with their new record "Raptus", the opposite seems to be the case. With three other albums behind their shoulders and now being a full band, DEVOURER has finally fully embraced and flourished the Extreme Death Metal side of their creativity.

DEVOURER went far from what they used to be a decade ago in terms of sound. Black Metal is still an essential element of DEVOURER's style, but it is no longer the focal point of the creative direction. The shift towards a more Death-oriented sound was gradually happening to their music throughout their other LPs released in 2017 and 2019. However, the scale of this shift was never that vivid before "Raptus". While I enjoy their earlier records, I admit that this change has allowed the band to express themselves even better. "Raptus" sounds better than anything the band put out before, and it is a great pleasure to see such progress.

DEVOURER attacks its listeners with a blast of riffs that equally could belong to SATYRICON or IMMORTAL. The song "Bearer of Dark Tidings" acts like ANAAL NATHRAKH or even MESHUGGAH like on the tracks "Visions from Megiddo" and "Existential Abhorrence" respectively. The general pace of the record feels much faster, even when compared to its three predecessors. DEVOURER's sound is "Raptus", which is more than ever focused on the ever-changing sonic drum rhythms that set the basement for all other instruments for the most part. Do not get me wrong, though, as the guitar work on "Raptus" is also remarkable. The most memorable guitar performance piece was a fantastic solo at the end of "Malformed". There are some nice synths on the album, too. The perfect one was in the last third of "Ton 618," which gave me a strong "SECOND TO SUN" vibe.

"Raptus" is an excellent record, exceptionally creative and ever-surprising. It catches your ear immediately and never leaves until the record is over. The only real problem with this album is not even related to the music itself but rather the aesthetics of its cover. I will not evaluate this argument any further and will agree that I probably have no taste when it comes to the matters of painted art and so on. Personally, however, I would hardly have paid attention to such unremarkable art in the first place. Other than that, DEVOURER delivers just as in their prime. If you never had the chance to listen to this band, this album might be the perfect gateway.