Cryptopsy | An Insatiable Violence | Season Of Mist

 

 More than three decades after first emerging from Montreal’s death metal underground, Cryptopsy returns with "An Insatiable Violence", their ninth full-length and a direct continuation of their sharpened post-pandemic focus. The band, long defined by technical proficiency and speed, delivers one of their tightest and most concentrated albums to date—just 21 months after "As Gomorrah Burns", which marked a revitalized era for the group.

The production, handled by guitarist Christian Donaldson, is dense and punishing but leaves room for every part to strike with precision. Flo Mounier’s drumming remains relentless, mixing speed and subtle variations in attack that make each track distinct in pacing. His playing on this album is among his most intense, even incorporating gravity blasts more frequently—something rarely heard even in Cryptopsy’s catalog.

Matt McGachy pushes his vocals further than before, reaching deeper registers and more layered phrasing. His voice maintains clarity even during the densest moments, blending false chord growls and piercing shrieks with control. The addition of Mike DiSalvo on “Embrace The Nihility” is a sharp nod to the band's past without relying on nostalgia; it fits seamlessly into the album’s momentum.

Bass duties from Olivier Pinard add constant weight, especially in low-end heavy passages like “Fools Last Acclaim”, where his tone anchors the track while matching the tempo and intricacy of Mounier’s drums. Donaldson’s riffs across the album are jagged and tightly wound, switching between angular attacks and restrained mid-tempo sections that allow temporary reprieves before launching into the next burst of violence.

Lyrically, "An Insatiable Violence" is bleak and allegorical, drawing from grotesque modern realities like algorithm-driven self-destruction, internet overconsumption, and the mechanical cycles of digital existence. The concept, initiated by McGachy’s 2023 dream, unfolds abstractly through the songs without overt narratives, adding a surreal and disturbed psychological undercurrent.

Despite its speed and aggression, the album is not monotonous. Tracks like “Malicious Needs” and “The Art Of Emptiness” incorporate grooves and slight structural variance that prevent fatigue over the concise 33-minute runtime. There is no unnecessary filler or indulgence; everything is pushed to the edge of efficiency. "An Insatiable Violence" is compact, violent, rhythmically punishing, and crafted with purpose. It finds Cryptopsy operating with discipline and urgency, reaffirming their place among modern death metal’s most technically ferocious bands.

Score: 8.6