Cryptopsy delivers a powerful slab of Technical Death Metal on ‘An Insatiable Violence’ in exactly the style the band is known for. It’s fast paced with heavy riffs that vary from dissonant savagery to slower hard hitting pumping rhythms. However, on ‘An Insatiable Violence’ Cryptopsy show a less spastic side of the band. In the past, the band’s technical proficiency made their songs, at times, feel all over the place. This time around the songs feel more consistent and comprehensive. Still, a slight step away from their chaotic nature doesn’t mean Cryptopsy has gone soft. ‘An Insatiable Violence’ remains a true Cryptopsy record, it’s just that newcomers will find this album easier to enjoy.
The beating heart behind the band and the drums is of course Flo Mounier. His drumming is highly acclaimed and, whilst he is getting older, he is deserving of praise for his work on this one too! His skill remains to surprise after all these years. His footwork on ‘The Art Of Emptiness’ is a personal highlight of mine, as he switches tempos seamlessly with his double bass rolls. Matt McGachy appearance, however, didn’t please anyone upon his arrival, probably because purist felt he couldn’t fill the shoes of long time vocalist Lord Worm. However, his presence behind the mic spans a decade and a half and he’s proven himself to be a more than capable frontman. McGachy’s range is vast and he uses it all on here to great effect. Many fans of the band’s first onset dislike his highs, claiming they sound too Deathcore. Dismissing ‘An Insatiable Violence’ for that reason would be silly, as McGachy primarily utilizes his grows, adding highs mostly to accentuate certain sections.
Cryptopsy is a band that’s worthwhile merely for the skill of its individual members, it has always been so. However, recent years have seen a steep increase of bands occupying themselves with Technical Brutal Death Metal. Origin, Archspire, Hour of Penance, just to name a few contenders. This makes is harder for Cryptopsy to create a standout album and along those lines it is hard to call ‘An Insatiable Violence’ an unique slab of Death Metal. It just isn’t that, aside from the ending of ‘Malicious Needs’ which shows the band taking on a Black/Doom Metal approach. However, it is an album that’s packed with all the best that Cryptopsy has pioneered, with each song having moments to absolutely bang your head to. This is where the main value of this release lies. A vulgar display of epic musicianship moulded to a hard-hitting Death Metal attack.
