Review by Jeger on January 29, 2025.

On the brink of the spiral do we who have not yet taken the final plunge drift. Swirling over the passing years of our steady inglorious demise in vessels of depression, frustration and anger as realizations of life's many deceptions are solidified through each season of suffering. Sounds pretty black metal. Actually, it sounds very post-black metal, which is exactly what this is. Black metal, but more cathartic and beholden to varying outside influences that are generally distant from black metal. Panopticon, Harakiri for the Sky, The Spirit and Vintras are a few of the predominant names that are spearheading the movement. The latter will release their debut Timescarred LP on March 27 via Void Wanderer / War Productions.

Music that is as hopeless and crafted with as much tunnel vision as Mgła: focused, honed and locked into the task at hand - the manufacturing of misery in the form of song, but with a remarkable silver lining. The titular track unfolds to all of those familiar depressive melodies and exudes similar levels of nihilistic cachet, but as we venture in further, we find ourselves set adrift over the fog upon grande majestic passages; voluminous compositions that draw from deep within the gut the faintest sense of hope just before we're plummeted back to surface level at melancholy's mercy. Like the feeling of dread you feel once the victim in a horror flick is captured again after making her daring escape only to be returned to the torture block for cleansing.

Youth is wasted on the young! And once we get to a certain age, life is nothing more than a struggle against the tide. We know it's coming but we try to distract ourselves from it as best we can through shit like work, partying, social media and the reveling in our many accomplishments, but it's right there in the mirror… We're dying and no one gets out alive. This sense of impending doom and of deathly foreshadowing is thick here in the throes of Timescarred. Even as accessible as tracks like "The Wretched Wanderer" can be, there's just no escaping the existential dread of it all, the weight of the matter. Heavy and rhythmic, anthemic and just massive - too bold to be labeled anything close to true black metal. Transcendent! Yet grounded enough to where you have no choice but to take it heavily to heart.

Bands like Vintras and individuals such as ourselves aren't fucking fooled. We are here to suffer. Even as we do whatever it is we're doing right in this very moment, we are suffering in some way. The world is not a beautiful place and there is no escaping the inevitable. We simply ride the snake through varying levels of depression, anxiety and false hope until we reach the end of the line. I wouldn't wish life on anyone… I would encourage you to listen to Timescarred. Like a dance with despair under silver moonlight or a glass of wine with death is this record and every bit as romantic. A toast! To your remaining years. May they be full of ignorant bliss instead of staunchly conceived realizations of future suffering and grim death. And here's to Vintras - a proud new entity on the UK post BM scene. Very powerful debut.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10

Review by Elijah on January 16, 2020.

I never really dug into this album until a few months ago when I finally gave it a full proper listen, and my god, this blew me away! Aside from then, the only time I heard this album is when I was just getting into Cenotaph, where at that time I had only been interested in the albums Puked Genital Purulency, Reincarnation in Gorexctasy, and Putrescent Infectious Rabidity; where for when it came to this album, I only skimmed a few songs and didn't think much of it.

This album is straight fire from beginning to end. This album has a heavy-staticy-raw vibe, and it's all over the place, in your face, relentless, and very brutal indeed! The drums in my opinion are the best part about this album. They have a pummeling raw brutal sound, the kick drum sounds just perfect, and the playing is full of skill. Aside from the constant blast beats and fills, the drummer implements some jazzy patterns and structures as well, which makes for a great listening experience. Most the songs on here got your usual BDM drumming, along with some cool ass innovative jazzy-type stuff. Very very awesome.

Guitars sound great. Along with the drums they got a raw vibe that also sounds slightly grindy and loose. The riffs are great, and the musical content presented here isn't tedious nor boring. The vocals done by sole original remaining member Batu are still great, just as they were when the band first debuted. His vocals on past albums have had more of a late era Disgorge sound, like how the vocals are on "Parallels of Infinite Torture", but with some more girth and strength. On this record he still sounds just as good, but he changes it up a little. Its more growl based and less guttural and meaty. Change is good, and the subtle change in his vocals here are cool.

Overall, every area and aspect of this album is awesome and doesn't fail or lack power. You got your heaviness which is accompanied by awesome songs, great instrumentation, consistency; everything enjoyable is here. This album legitimately makes me feel happy and energetic. It's incredibly catchy and upon listen it'll keep calling you back for more once you're finished with it. All the songs are nutty, and every member does their part greatly! Can't find a single negative part about this release anywhere at all.

The band hadn't put out an album in 7 years, and with a huge comeback releasing an album like Perverse Dehumanized Dysfunctions, they've proven that they're still brutal, active, and not dead. Every second of this album is enjoyable, fun, and once again; brutal. If you're on the search for some good newer brutal death metal or are just a fan in general of this genre, I definitely recommend this album right here. Cenotaph are and will remain the Turkish kings of brutality!

Rating: 10 out of 10