Review Summary: As loud as a whisper. Death metal in the dark.
In the realms of death metal noodle bags, Cognizance have at least captured the
essence of what makes a tech infused metal soundscapes so ever-present. Where the band’s sophomore,
Upheaval literally transformed the wondrous DNA of bands like Vnale Of Pnath and Virvum into a burly summary of sorts staying accessible to the more digestible cuts of groove metal, this year’s effort sees Cognizance continue their dominant sway with
Phantazein. I say continue, because the latter doesn’t especially expand on the Cognizance universe past the lumbering introductions of the debut. Instead, the gap between records merely acts as a stop-gap, a pause, before this little death metal band from the United Kingdom launches another aural assault as the proverbial noodle train continues its next rotation.
So that sounds pretty mixed as I at least hint that
Phantazein simply continues on the aesthetic laid down by the band’s sophomoric release. It’s as if we’ve simply turned a page after three years… instead of opening another defining chapter. That’s rather pragmatic when you think about it. No one was expecting, nor asked for a dramatic, mind-blowing change of scope. But rather than expand or recreate,
Phantazein becomes more digestible, more accessible and even easier to follow than the records that came before it. Cognizance’s deathly climes still follow the same welcoming paths. The beastly, groove forward riffs of “Ceremonial Vigour” dismiss flamboyant sterile tapestry and overwrought guitar wankery in the same instance. The leads are tasteful, climbing note frames, vines up and down a vintage timber frame left alone to the elements while the gruff delivery of growls further cement Cognizance’s burly style. The introductory track stays true to the group’s ethos—primal tech-laden death metal firmly rooted in bludgeoning its listener, not blowing them away. Faster cuts like “Chiselled in Stone” thrash out their death metal sphere with an instrumentation that is and isn’t like a Slayer groove, but the music itself far distinguishes itself from such lazy descriptors before a jagged instrumentation throws everything out the window.
“Futureless Horizon” is a showcase. A bold take on taking tried and true death metal stereotypes and inserting individual flair. At a first glance it’s hard to imagine this U.K. group pulling off something that could only be described as either an Archspire album played simply or Cannibal Corpse with forward-thinking melody. It’s beside the point that Cognizance are neither, because the callbacks to death metal stalwarts everywhere are just too recognisable—but that’s
Phantazein’s brutal charm. It’s oh-so familiar, but it’s not. Similarities be damned and or um…welcomed? Cognizance’s third album still manages to be
safe, immediate and fortunately, a grower in a larger scope of death metal bands continuing to do death metal things. Even the record’s breaking “Alferov” provides a sense of pause or reflection. Introspection calms a larger scope of harsh noise and monotone vocal presence. A breathe in, before “Shock Heuristics” breathes out, continuing supremacy in the form of forward moving stability.
The album’s tail end, more specifically with the likes of “In Verses Unspoken” snap into gear and while I’ve shown praise for the less is more style of technical death metal on offer, I do wonder how this track would’ve really lifted
Phantazein as a whole if it was second or third on the track listing.
Phantazein seems wholly more energetic as it winds down. The closer, “Shadowgraph” is a massive flex that brings together the band’s brutal focus, adventurous riffs and healthy dabbling of melodic licks. As a foot end, “Shadowgraph” is the direction this band should be taking moving forwards. I just hope that they forgive themselves for taking such a laid-back, safe approach for most of this record. As much as there’s nothing
wrong with
Phantazein’s approach to their brand of technical death metal. Their ability to wow just isn’t hitting home with their newest primal offering. This is death metal for the casual aficionado who doesn’t like the biggest, baddest roller-coaster but thinks about lining up for that ride anyway. Cognizance is either too happy with their trajectory or don’t know how to build more exciting twists and turns.
Phantazein simply exists.
