Carnosus - Wormtales

Wow what an album!!! “Wormtales,” the third full-length album from these Swedish death metal freaks, is an unrelenting slab of nihility that's heavier and darker than anything they have done yet. 

What it lacks in technical flair and big, catchy moments that graced the well reviewed “Visions of Infinihility,” it makes up for it with a massive sound that embraces all that is mighty and powerful in extreme metal. 

Carnosus aren't strangers to thrash influences and this album continues to embrace the genre but forgoes much of the flashy shredding and replaces it with smarter songwriting that's clever without going overboard and doing too much. It is definitely a simpler album in terms of technical ability but this approach just allows them to zero in on playing death fucking metal. Their sound is now honed to a “T.”

The band still retains their rapid fire approach of throwing out all kinds of vocals over music that tends to be spastic and energetic. 

The album begins with “Birthless” and it's creepy short intro before laying a thick foundation with earth shattering drums and guitars. The bass is just as heavy but open enough to be the powerhouse it needs to.

A melodic solo cuts through the filth before the band pulls back on the tempo to allow the disgusting, and impressive vocals, to get some time to shine in the grime.

I appreciate the album leaning towards melody a lot more—I much prefer it to technical prowess. 

I especially find it impressive when they use melody to throw out curveballs. Case in point is “Within Throat, Within Heart.” The song spends over two minutes beating bodies against the walls the suddenly it stops for a clean instrument passage that is surprisingly emotive.

“Worm Charmer,” is a highlight for me. Carnosus steers their undead ship into murky waters that's as atmospheric as it is blistering. This is a moody song where the vocals really come in handy to set everything up.

“Paradoxical Impulse,” has a certain way about it….disturbing and even stalker-ish. But the guitars cast their magic, spinning through groovy, melodic and harrowing passages.

“Cosmoclaustrum,” latched onto me immediately with that deep brutal death growl that opens the song. The riffs are part groove, part chugs that create a hard hitting rhythm that is one of more catchy moments on the album.

The final song, “Solace In Soil,” is my favorite song on the album. The slow, murky beginning excites the doom metal lover within me. The drums and bass layer the song in dense riffs that are like a dimension unto itself. This is the slowest song of the bunch, at least in some moments, and it allows the band to really bring the pain.

Carnosus’ “Wormtales” is a sick, depraved modern death metal album that further cements this band as a force to be respected and reckoned with. I don't want to say it's a step up from their previous efforts so much as it's a step in another direction while honoring their roots.