THE EROSION OF SANITY

As death metal began to wane in 1993, many bands found themselves dealing with flaky labels, lousy promotion and a dwindling fan base. Never one to follow the beaten path, Gorguts knew time was running out and thus concocted what I personally consider the single best progressive death metal release of all time. Luc Lemay is a musical genius, as evident by his ability to create jarring, unorthodox riffing patterns (reminiscent of King Crimson) while keeping the arrangements fresh and interesting. Gorguts have always been known for their insane arrangements, and this album is no exception. While not as complex as the legendary "Obscura", this album is non the less incredibly dense; you won't even begin to hear the nuances of greatness the first, second, even third time through.

It should be noted that despite first impressions, this IS NOT a standard death metal album. If anything, it is progressive music under the guise of extreme metal. Combining the best elements of heavy, complex riffing and subtle melodies/arrangements, this truly is a marriage of wonders. The death metal aesthetic of the band and album doesn't do the music justice; you must look, or more accurately LISTEN between the lines to really hear this album. Once you do, it's similar to having an epiphany where everything you thought you knew before slightly realigns, revealing a beautiful mosaic of creativity.

Combining riffing derived from bands such as DEATH and MORBID ANGEL with the ferocious arrangements of King Crimson and Yes, Gorguts truly are the kings of progressive death metal. The opening track "With Their Flesh, He'll Create" gives the listener no time to take a breath as the album kicks into high gear. The piano intro to "Condemned To Obscurity" represents the last stretch of sanity before one collapses into the void; an absolute masterpiece. The title track features some of the tightest, most thought out technical riffing patterns I have ever heard, and goes hand in hand with the album art (Dan Seagrave!). "Orphans of Sickness" adds a little more shuffle-and-groove to the mix.

One thing that too many "technical" acts do wrong right off the bat is attempt to stuff as many notes as possible into the music. This is never the case with Gorguts; each riff and part is so refined, you feel like you're listening to classical music as opposed to extreme metal. This is technical death metal done right; not since Suffocation's "Effigy of The Forgotten", "Breeding The Spawn" and Death "Human" has death metal been executed with such poise, precision, and stunning perplexity.

"Hideous Infirmity" has one of the catchiest riffs I've ever heard, and at it's core is almost arranged like a typical pop song. Luc really knows his stuff, and it shows on this record. "A Path Beyond Premonition" brings the listener to a more grueling, brutal atmosphere. Slow palm muted passages carry the track, and an upbeat ending section brings it full circle. "Odors of Existence" continues the mayhem, only to open up into the classical guitar infused intro of the closing track "Dormant Misery". You will never hear another "death metal" band perform as tightly as these guys; there was something in the air in CanadaI swear.

All in all, this album is absolutely worth the five star rating; it may take several spins to really start to hear the structure behind the mayhem, but once it clicks you'll find yourself anticipating riffs and switch-ups. Gorguts were (and still are, in my honest opinion) a criminally over looked band in general. The legacy of this album cannot be stated more prominently; this is the death metal equivalent of prog classics such as "Close To The Edge", "Red", and "Selling England By The Pound". A Must have for any progressive metal enthusiast!