Hey there tech fiends, it's that time of the week again. Before we dive into today's focus, here's the usual reminder that if you're looking for more sick music, all prior editions of this series can be perused here.
Spectral hail from Romania and today we're focusing on their recently released full-length, Neural Correlates of Hate that dropped in March. The album calls to mind First Fragment, Necrophagist, Spawn of Possession, and Gorod and that's a big compliment here when I mention those groups and how sick this is. This is one of the best albums I've heard in the genre in some time when it comes to groups that are completely new to me.
Neural Correlates of Hate is a bonkers high-quality feast of neo-classical influenced shred with a strong influx of progressive death metal, brutally obscene streaks, and old-school flair to it throughout. Their old school side calls to mind Pestilence and other still thrash tinged early technically mind old school death, early pre-Obscura Gorguts, and early Suffocation at their most primal.
Highly skilled ex-Necrophagist drummer Romain Goulon did the session drums here and absolutely annihilates his kit, proving once again that he is one of the best death drummers around right now. It was hearing him mention he played on this release that enticed me to check it out, so good job looping the world into Spectral. The album's Bandcamp early on touted guest solos from guitar god Christian Muenzer and current Pestilence lead guitarist Calin Paraschivalso which further piqued my interest as Christian doesn’t tend to let a guest spot on anything that isn't great. The guitar and bass playing from the group's core member Ciprian Martin are fucking ridiculous just about all the time. The vocalist performs a rather gruff and putrid brutal growl overall mixed with some scorching scream.
Any way you cut it, Neural Correlates of Hate is an impressive effort. Whether you enjoy old school progressive death metal ideas or modern speed-addled insanity, this album offers something for everyone. Spectral expertly threads the needle between old and new, while dishing out a staggering amount of variety from start to finish that defies simple explanation or comparison to just one type of tech-death.
If you dig what you're hearing below, Neural Correlates of Hate can be ordered through Bandcamp. Be sure to follow the band over on the Spectral Facebook page. *Just as a heads up, the album contains more than four songs, their label only has four listed on the Bandcamp page for reasons unknown.
