Band:	Astral Tomb
Album:	Total Spiritual Death
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	July 2023

01. Milan
02. Cathedral
03. All Black 'Vette
04. Coward
05. Soulgaze
06. Funeral Of Self
07. Eyes Wide Shut

The psychedelic voyages through time and space have been replaced by meditative rituals in hidden temples. Even though I don’t think this was the best idea, no one can deny Astral Tomb’s sense of ambition and innovation.

The band’s debut album, Soulgazer, was easily my favorite death metal album from last year. It combined mesmerizing psychedelic elements with visceral, mind-numbing death metal, giving us a result that could only be described as “mönke in space”. With no interest in keeping us waiting, this trio from Denver releases their sophomore album, Total Spiritual Death, one year later. If the debut was about a primate getting into contact with the all-knowing forces of the cosmos, then this album reflects the opposite scenario. A lonely alien getting in touch with our most primitive cults hidden deep in the darkest caverns of our planet.

Right from the get go, I knew that Total Spiritual Death was not going to be particularly space-themed. It kicks off slowly with echoing riffs and some Middle Eastern/Oriental melodies, as if a ritualistic ceremony was taking place. It is a great introduction, but a puzzling one, as there is absolutely no need to keep “Milan” and “Cathedral” separate, as the former leads into the later seamlessly to the point they even share the same tone in the last and first seconds of each track respectively. But if you think that is odd, then it’s just warming up. Astral Tomb haven’t lost their touch for deconstructing death metal to the point that it’s a bit difficult to recall previous artists that have done anything similar. To the best of my knowledge, I can hear some Voivod, but the one name that sprung to mind the earliest was the brilliantly dissonant and off-kilter Diskord.

While the psychedelic elements are kept at minimum, this album still feels mighty otherworldly. The dissonance of the rabid riffs is countered by the bouncy and groovy bass. Some electronic beats and drones like on “All Black 'Vette” and “Soulgaze” are so baffling, especially once they are preceded or followed by bone-crushing drums and abysmal growls/screams. Although Astral Tomb is not strange to electronic touches, last time they were sci-fi-themed synths. This atmosphere has completely changed, and feels much more primal and threatening. You could say Astral Tomb went, ehm, less astral and more tomb. It retains the cerebral component though, as sometimes I can’t figure out what I think of tracks like the aforementioned “All Black 'Vette” and the finale “Eyes Wide Shut”. The album’s last song is particularly impressive in its weirdness, as it is basically shoegaze played with the production of a cavernous death metal album, with ethereal female vocals to boot.

While there are some moments that left me scratching my head a little bit, there is one thing that is consistently brilliant: The drumming. Just like on their previous album, Astral Tomb manages to combine intriguing intricacy with brute force. The drumming is responsible for most of the tension-building, from jazzy interludes to ritualistic rhythms and of course all-around blastbeat madness. And no track is better to showcase this than the 14-minute “Funeral Of Self”. No matter how much I spoil it for you, no one is prepared for the way this track is constructed. From corrosive death metal, to maddening, tribalistic drumming, followed by drone and jazz intensity and back to brutal death metal riffing and a grand psychedelic ending. “Funeral Of Self” is easily one of the most interesting and unique death metal songs of the year, period.

As I’ve stated before, Total Spiritual Death is hard to approach. It demands an opened mind and patience. Its meditative nature that casually turns into a ritualistic frenzy and back can be a bit shocking, specially with some of the electronic and alternative elements sprinkled here and there. Some things you just can't really figure out completely. But you will appreciate the experience regardless.