Hey there tech-fiends, are you ready for another trip into super shredding and blastbeat infested new music? I've got another super killer stream for you all today from the brilliant UK based outfit Cognizance. A name I'm sure many of you already know and have heard of. But before we dive into that, here's the usual weekly reminder that all prior editions of this series can be perused here.
UK based Technical Death Metal wizards Cognizance have been at it for awhile, always releasing EPs of quality material over stretched thin quality full-lengths. Their most recent release was a 2014 two song EP, but now they've returned to a lengthier format with an upcoming five song release this time with Illusory. Opener, "Visceral Doubt" falsely lulls you in from the start with the idea that it's solely a intro minded track, before launching into the blistering tech-death they are well known for. From there, the band seem to have made their biggest change in sound to date on all the songs that follow. And sweet guest spots by guitarist Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) on "Secondary Volition", and guitarist Justin Mckinney (The Faceless/Zenith Passage) on "Spectrum", just add even more sickness to what the band is already laying down like well seasoned pros throughout all of Illusory.
Sure, its still a first-rate blend of tech-death and brutal minded death metal like the band has always delivered, but this time there seems to more of a progressive and atmospheric gravitas supplementing the music on Illusory that wasn't as prevalent on any prior releases from the group. The introduction of a super shreddy and tasteful instrumental on "Second Volition" is also something new for the band and it works surprisingly well. While I've been a fan of them for awhile, it's always cool to see a band really step it up and take their sound to higher and greater places.
Illusory is the perfect dose of standout tech-death, the kind of release that hooks you instantly into endless replays of it through a laser like focus on brevity that makes for lean powerful tech-death that strikes like a fucking nuke, leaving an insurmountable impact in its wake. If you dig what you're hearing, Cognizance – Illusory official drops on August 26th and can be pre-ordered at the Cognizance Bigcartel Page for now. Be sure to follow the band over on their Facebook Page as well!
