Reptilian - Perennial Void Traverse CD

Much as they’ve done with Sepulcher and Inculter, Edged Circle Productions is proud to present the debut album of a Norwegian newcomer who’ll soon be spoken of far and wide: Reptilian‘s Perennial Void Traverse. In some ways like national contemporaries Obliteration and Execration – and, of course, grandaddies Cadaver – the still-young Reptilian whip forth a whirlwind of utterly twisted, fever-dreaming death metal. Across its six sidewinding tracks, Perennial Void Traverse indeed draws the listener into a void of ghastly contours that continually shapeshift. Lumbering ‘n’ lurking down-tempos instill an atmosphere of dread and impending doom, all before explosions of filth-banging thrash burst forth and hammer onward, only for the momentum to be up-ended by further lurking and creeping death, and a whole host of maneuvers that defy easy comprehension: the tools at Reptilian‘s disposal are many, and with an enviously fluid sense of mastery, they weave together a rich, red-eyed tapestry of hysteria and unease.
And yet, despite all the frequently labyrinthine constructions, Perennial Void Traverse is a highly dynamic listen, its thorny ‘n’ treacherous landscape nevertheless dotted with hellishly memorable hooks – but as ever, laced with a diabolical sense of mischief, for what is a sonic experience if it’s too comfortable? Of course, Reptilian execute all this death metal magick with a tightness and confidence that are blanching to behold; chaos may threaten to creep in across the album, but the band fully harness its powers and make it their servant. Perennial Void Traverse is likewise recorded with just the right balance between rawness and clarity, composure and decomposure, and rendered in warm, totally human analog tones. Pay witness to the beginning of greatness and step deep inside Reptilian‘s Perennial Void Traverse.