Archspire – Relentless Mutation – Album Review

Technical death metal, you’re having a bloody good year aren’t you!

Frankly, we’ve been inundated with class acts in 2017; from Profanity to Suffocation, Origin to Decepit Birth, there’s been more noodling going on than overtime at the world’s largest Pot Noodle factory! You can also now add the flavoursome output of Canada’s Archspire to that list as Relentless Mutation relentlessly hammers away with mind-blowing proficiency and technical audacity.

Sure, just like Pot-bloody-Noodle, there’s a synthetic feel to Relentless Mutation but this kind of technical death metal has long since needed to conform to generic death metal rules. Technical death metal is meant to challenge and bewilder but there’s much more to Archspire than just dazzling complexity.

“Involuntary Doppleganger” is an absolute blast, launching its way into a myriad of time changes and out-of-this-world noises while still, somehow, maintaining a sense of cohesion. It even finds time to go a little jazzy on your ass, Pestilence style….and it’s all the better for it!

In fact, you find yourself embracing the madness and doffing your cap to the sheer insanity of Archspire’s sound. First and foremost though, Relentless Mutation is full of huge fuckin’ hooks  – vocal and otherwise – and these are the kind of hooks that subconsciously ensnare the extreme metal fan, adhering themselves to those who appreciate the skill that goes into producing music of this kind.

With Relentless Mutation, Archspire consistently impress while still delivering that most important aspect, actual songs! That’s right, this ain’t no showboat that looks pretty while hiding its hollow core. Oh no, this meaty fucker actually sets sail and its destination is tech death heaven! 8/10