Written by Carcassbomb
Fractal Generator – Macrocosmos
Technical Death Doom from Canada
Released January 15, 2021
Via Everlasting Spew Records
7.5/10
I know that opening sample orb-like sound, for sure. It’s either from an Elder Scrolls game or STALKER game, or maybe I’m plain wrong but what is supposed to be THE fractal generator is definitely a sound I’m familiar with. Or maybe this band really does make music about software for fractal pattern processing. Whatever it’s about, one thing is certain, this is a very cinematic technical death metal album that stays on the heavier side of the genre while also offering some mind washing sounds.
The pacing on Macrocosmos is satisfying, they find a good groove and often stick to it for a while as opposed to constantly switching it up to appear more technical. It’s a similar beat that is manipulated across a track, with added nuance or increased intensity where appropriate. The music just constantly exists as a backdrop that the vocalist can just enter as they please or when it is their time, the music would still be happening even without a vocalist to perceive it. The dreary construction of it all reminds me of Void Rot but with added tech flair and sci-fi vibes from Tomb Mold.
I enjoy this Vader style of thrashy death vocals where you can make out almost every lyric, bringing more of a story element to the music. When they do knuckle down and spit some indecipherable shit, it usually hits twice as strong as a sort of stress point in the album. There’s not a huge call for variety as the whole thing has a similar kind of dark industrious tone dripping all over, like a machine in operation, completing a tedious task infallibly. If that tedious task were methodical elimination then it may sound a lot like Fractal Generator.
I’m not going to mention Bolt Thrower, except right now. How else to make an old school buzzsaw-like comparison? This album will grind you from the sides for a long moment and then switch to dropping spiders from above with despondent chords. You’ll particularly find the latter in the track “Chaos Sphere” which includes accompanying symphonics to drive the unfortunate atmosphere home. The slower parts of the album come without compromise to their brutality and allow the drumming to get some real noticeable kicking in, love these quad blasts over the slower riffs. Or whatever timing they are, I’m not a drummer.
In terms of the current tech death climate it’s a good doomy take on the genre but lacks a certain memorability some of the more unique releases coming out at the moment. It’s an album for when you want a very hectic and heavy death metal album but with a little more to think about. I will be returning to this regularly when I’m in the mood for a dirge that tickles. It’s a very well done album with a sound many old school death doom fans will embrace.
So many moments from this album would make fantastic soundtracks to boss fights in video games and anime.
7.5/10
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