Civerous - Maze Envy

Civerous is a death metal band from Los Angeles, California who formed in 2019. “Maze Envy” is their second full-length album.  They have been prolific, having also released two demos, a split, one compilation, and a live album.  

“Maze Envy” is one of the most diverse death metal albums I’ve heard this year.  Their sound is pure evil, dark, and there isn’t an ounce of light that penetrates.  In their march forward to conquer these bleak sonic landscapes, the band also incorporates black metal, doom.  Their use of clean instrumentation, keys and approach to using dismal melodies adds more layers to this towering album. In essence, it does a little bit of everything but, most importantly, the album remains focused throughout its seven track, forty-two minute runtime.

The album begins with instrumental intro, “The Azure Eye,” which lays a disturbing and horrific tone with its unnerving use of keys.

The instrument fades out just as the first proper song, “Shrouded In Crystals,” begins.  A primordial death scream pierces the backdrop of slow, sweltering riffs.  The bass and drums hold the rhythm and foundation while sending out pulses of darkness that reverberate through the atmosphere. 

The tempo speeds up but the song loses none of its vitriol. Around the 2:25 mark, the band mixes in clean tones among the heavier elements—a truly nasty, psychotic atmosphere is the result.  “Maze Envy” is full of moments like this because the band has a firm grasp on a vision of death metal that not only is heavy but is also truly capable of producing alienating sounds and putting the listener on the defensive. 

“Labyrinth Charm,” opens explosively after a short clean intro.  The song takes a lot of different turns, as if lost in a labyrinth itself and insure what will be around the corner. After offering pummeled existence, a mesmerizing guitar solo cuts through which lets to a fast paced but atmospheric section that wouldn’t sound out of place on some black metal albums.  A little melody peaks about halfway through but the harrowing death screams ensure it isn’t a comfortable experience.  A passage that has post elements ends the song on and oddly beautiful note.

I have to say one of the strongest moments, if not the the strongest, on the album is the nearly ten minute long dirge that is “Geryon (The Plummet).  The dark clean notes build up to a smattering of drums and slow/low riffs.  The violin (not sure if it is real or keys but it sounds great, regardless) sound regal but also sorrowful and even slightly maddening in its false serenity.

Around the 2:40 mark, the riffs grow into a rumble as the band lumbers on like an unstoppable behemoth. The rest of the song changes and grows in a sick way, twisting into numerous forms as this beast comes to life.  Around the 5:55 mark, clean tones return but don’t offer a respite but instead bridge the song together in a way only Civerous can. 

All in all, this is my first experience with Civerous so “Maze Envy” is quite the surprise and one of the more extreme albums I’ve reviewed.  Of course, it is without a doubt extreme metal and presented as such but the songwriting, the way the band moves its music around, and the atmosphere born from it, puts it over the top as well.  An absolutely fantastic album.