Review Summary: On a trip through as many circles of hell as dimensions of space-time.
As of late, the word "cosmic" has been quite a common one to describe various aspects within the death metal scene. Cosmic riffs, cosmic solos,
Cosmic Putrefaction – you name it – more and more artists are offering their attempts at infusing the venerable genre with otherworldly atmospherics and psychedelic overtones. Early incorporations in 1990s visionary work by Timeghoul and Demilich have seemingly spawned a legion of followers in more modern times such as Blood Incantation, Cadaveric Fumes, and Howls of Ebb. One of the more common criticisms with such a blend, especially from lesser known artists, is that the music tends to lose its sense of forward pace and groove amidst some of the floaty acid trips. Well, enter Cavern Womb, a burgeoning four-piece from Philadelphia with
Stages of Infinity – an EP that manages to avoid that very pitfall to a wonderful degree.
Angular, while still bludgeoning riffing and guttural heaves are at the forefront of
Stages of Infinity, driven forth by the pair of Dex Hoffman and Shervin Balan on the axes. For example, give a listen to the Demilich-esque spiraling in "Cryopreserved" for a trip back to whatever alien landscapes that
Nespithe was recorded in. Another standout for the dual guitar attack is the space-time warping, and still outstandingly melodic, solo section in "Amber Scourge", my personal pick for the best track of the release. Hints of blackened flash and sludge mash are present throughout the album, presenting a delightfully mixed package that is supported by the complex patterns offered by drummer Kyle Kovac and bassist Alex McFarland. As mentioned, the groove that is maintained through
Stages of Infinity is notable. Whereas some albums of this ilk lead you into a maze and then leave you lost in it, Cavern Womb instead opt to offer a malevolent path through it, which is much appreciated. The gritty and expansive sound mixing wraps it all together, certainly creating a sonic landscape enough to be called "heavy", but not skimping on the treble spectrum. The end result is an EP that stands head and shoulders in its execution above many others, offering both a satisfying death metal take and leaving you wishing for more.
With only a split with Noxis – also a very worthwhile listen – and
Stages of Infinity under their belt, Cavern Womb would seem to be rather inexperienced at first glance. However, the songwriting chops displayed over this rather brief 25 minutes are considerable and promise great things to come for this Philly outfit. In a year with so much quality death metal being released and artists like Ulcerate and Hyperdontia dominating the underground airwaves, Cavern Womb carve
their own cavern and a comfortable niche for themselves that makes
Stages of Infinity a damn-near essential listen in the death metal canon. That is a strong compliment.
