FRAGILE EXISTENCE is an Extreme/Death Metal band based out of Toronto, Canada, and formed in 2007. "Cataclysms and Beginnings" is the band's second full-length album, and contains ten tracks. The band purports that they are not as simply categorizes as Death Metal, though this is probably the closest description. From their bio, "With vocals ranging from guttural roars to ethereal shrieks, complex cascading guitar solos are anchored by hammering, vicious drumming, FRAGILE EXISTENCE is the new breed of Extreme Music." As I take in the album as a whole, I would have to agree with some of their points. One thing this is not, is stagnant, repetitive and narrowly defined Death Metal, in the traditional sense of genre boundaries. Though at its core it is certainly extremely brutal and relentless, the band is able to bring some additional sounds into the fold, and seems unwilling to allow any one compositional structure to dominate the landscape. They also have a pretty commanding presence of their musicianship and technical abilities. Strongest among this might be the drumming. Morte is able to vary the style several times during the same track so that it does not become repetitive. "Malignant Design" is a good example of this. The vocal approach varies as well. Too often I find that many bands in this style are content to just lay on that super-low, guttural grunt as the only way to communicate the music. But here we have a combination of approaches. There are even semi-clean vocals here and there. "Limitless Genocide" is a track where I find the vocals are done particularly well in this way. The album is not entirely devoid of melody as well, which is another signature part of many bands performing this style of music. Though the main riffs and rhythm guitars are often done in that super speedy style and frequent pig squeals are heard, there are a lot of times where they meet in harmony for an extended passage, or in a breakdown of sorts where the guitar melody is the main focus. The solo section towards the end of "Accommodating Demise", and in the song "Upon Serpents They Prey" keys in that spirit well. Sometimes however the sheer punishing end of this style is the main focus of the song, and it's the energy and punch that drive the sound, as in the track "Clandestine Laboratories of Unbridled Malevolence". But just when you think you have figured things out pretty well, they throw a nice curveball at you with the final track "The Skin Casket". Not only is it the longest song on the album, but it really breathes well from the opening, suspenseful acoustic passage. Ultimately it leads to punishing brutality in the main body of the track, but I appreciate the temperance displayed. Fans of Death Metal and Extreme Metal will find this to their liking. The musicianship is strong and the depth of skull cracking deep.