Review by Norbert on January 4, 2026.

The French duo Corrupter was formed in 2021 by M. (guitar, vocals, drums) and J. (bass guitar), who have been part of the local metal underground for over a quarter of a century, both of whom made their name as members of the more famous Morgue. However, Corrupter is a completely different entity – devoid of the technical, controlled nature of Morgue and focused on the direct, overwhelming wave of death metal. Their music is heavy, ritualistic, shrouded in darkness, clearly influenced by classics of the genre, especially Morbid Angel from the "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh" and "Gateways To Annihilation" eras – both in the massive groove and in the moments when the riffs either veer towards dissonance or accelerate to a frenetic pace, without losing their monumental power.

Their debut album, Descent Into Madness, released in February 2022 by Godz Ov War Productions, was entirely recorded and produced by the musicians themselves, further underscoring its raw nature. It's over three-quarters of an hour of pure, insane impact—powerful, fleshy riffs with excellent construction, full of mood shifts and melodic details that will ingrain themselves in your memory. Percussive pressure and deep growls build an atmosphere of constant tension, while moments of slowing down lend the music a weight familiar from monumental passages like Immolation or Grave Miasma. Descent Into Madness is like a sustained assault, repeatedly gasping for air only to crush you back under its weight—and when you're already down, it throws in a few Trey Azagthoth-style riff punches to ensure you don't get up too quickly.

The second album, Gloria In Profundis, released in April 2025—also under the Godz Ov War Productions banner—retains this primal brutality while simultaneously deepening the dark atmosphere. The sound has become even more "cave-like" and sultry, as if recorded in an underground temple—there are echoes of bands like Portal, Teitanblood, and Dead Congregation, but also clear references to the slow, serpentine riffs of Morbid Angel from "Gateways...". The guitar work here is just as good as on the debut, but even more complex and unsettling—often leading the listener through dense, almost chaotic fragments, only to suddenly slow down into heavy, massive passages with a distinct doom metal flavor. These monumental slowdowns act as sonic abysses, drawing us into the darkness and imbuing the whole with a sense of inevitable decline. The vocals echo from the very depths of the abyss, and the drums conduct this ritual with the precision of an executioner, from fast, almost frenzied blast beats to majestic, slow beats. And while there will likely be more than one critic who will say there are more "innovative" or simply "more important" death metal albums this year, Gloria In Profundis is my favorite death metal album so far – it has something about it that keeps me coming back. Maybe it's the riffs, maybe the atmosphere, or maybe that strange effect where, after listening to it, I feel like I've returned from a multi-day trip through hell… and I'm already planning the next one.

Comparing both releases, one could say that Descent Into Madness is a frontal assault – fast, direct, based on phenomenal, cutting riffs and an intense tempo – while Gloria In Profundis is a deeper dive – more complex, rich in structures, in which guitar parts intertwine with monumental doom slowdowns. Corrupter consistently develop their style, moving from intense, merciless impact towards an increasingly deeper, atmospheric darkness, clearly separating their identity from Morgue while simultaneously paying homage to the greatest masters of death metal in history. To complete the set, there's another Corrupter out there. Perhaps the most direct. For a handful of crisps, they'll threaten so hard that all the Vincents/Tuckers in the world will hide. For a double helping, they'll even do it in French!

Rating: 8.5 out of 10