Phobocosm - The Gateway

Phobocosm is a death metal band from Canada, who formed in 2008.  Their latest album, “Gateway,” is their fourth full-length album; they have also released an EP.

I reviewed their previous album, “Foreordained,” when I wrote for Metal Temple and gave it much praise, commenting on its doomy, bleak atmosphere.  How does “Gateway” stack against it?  It’s even better–the band leans hard into every element that makes them so effective in the first place. The atmosphere is sinister as hell, drenched with a sickening feeling of dread.  But it doesn’t meander around, instead focusing on barreling forward with a surprising ferocity rather than focusing solely on downtrodden moods. 

The guitar tone is exactly how death metal should sound:  encompassing and suffocating yet pure horror.  There was a time when death metal was really outside the norm and people were actually afraid to listen to it.  This album gives off those vibes tenfold— “Gateway” is a hugely horrific album.

It also seems to be meant to be listened to as either one long song or at least in full setting.  Of the seven tracks, only four of them are actually full-length songs.  The other three are instrumentals.  Normally, this stuff really bugs me but Phobocosm are too smart of songwriters to do anything less than amazing.  These three instrumentals are not bland instrumental but very important parts overall of this tapestry of darkness.  Listening from beginning to end is amazing and the album wouldn’t work without these three songs.  

The production is basically perfect, turning the album into a surprisingly smooth listen despite its obviously abrasive qualities.   The songs overall sound massive without the need for it to be muddled with needless grime; every instrument gets equal time in the spotlight.  So reviewing this album on a track-by-track basis wouldn’t really work as this one is about the whole experience.  I do want to talk about the opening song through and then I’ll speak on my favorite part of the album. 

Check out “Deathless,” one of the best opening tracks I’ve heard on a death metal release this year.  The buzzing of the guitars slowly builds up, overlapping with creepy tones. It's absolutely maddening yet I couldn’t tear myself away from it. The layers form a tower of death, whose signal comes screaming out at the 2:32 mark with wave after wave of riffs and vocals so low it almost hurts my voice to hear them.  The song changes in a subtle manner, infecting the mind with a methodical ability to crush.  

“Corridor II - The Descent,” and the following song, “Beyond the Threshold of Flesh,” together make up my favorite moment on the entire album.  The former is a song of dark discovery, the drumming light the way down a path of no return.  The deep distortion pushes the psyche further down the hole as the tempo ramps up.  The double bass is furious, paring well with the clean notes that keep the nerves on edge. 

The latter is my favorite song of the bunch, taking the ideas and atmosphere from “Corridor” and running the full gauntlet with them.  The song ebb and flows between slow, slithering rhythms and moments of unbridled carnage.  In between are the elements the band wields so effectively, a grandiose of death that demands worship from all.

Phobocosm’s “Beyond the Threshold of Death,” is an album of huge depth and proportions, made very engaging by a band who is confident in their sound and what they want to offer the listener.  This album isn’t for the weak but if you know, you know.  Highly recommended.

Rating: Excellent