Info
- Band(s): Left Cross
- Label(s): Profound Lore Records
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl, CD
- Release Year: 2023
- Review Date: December 26, 2023
- Author(s): FelixS
After a couple of EP’s and a self-released debut album, the American Death Metal band Left Cross got picked up by the revered Profound Lore Records label. A label that is particularly known for its nose for outstanding quality, the last couple of years I have been really impressed by some of their roster’s output, so… that definitely raises the expectation for this five-piece from Richmond, Virginia, of which I had never heard of prior to the release of this record.
Judging from the previously released material it is clear that the band did show some of their potential, but little could we know that the band would come up with an album like ‘Upon Desecrated Altars’. To start right off with a conclusion of sorts, this sophomore album is one of dizzying beauty. It places the band right in the same ranks of bands like Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation and Cruciamentum – of which the latter is also releasing their new record through the Profound Lore stables.
The dark sort of Death Metal with a suffocating, almost Black Metal-ish, atmosphere is sucking you right into these abyssal depths that is reserved only for a select amount of other acts, of which I name-dropped three above. While a lot of bands attempting to reach the same level of utterly dense and oppressive Death Metal gets bogged down into the more caverncore-like territories, Left Cross is able to crank out one amazing riff after the other and taking hooky turns and angles in order to achieve a level of dynamics that is seldomly heard.
Using the word “unique” would be a bit too far off, as the aforementioned bands already started to pave these roads over a decade ago, but still… The mixture of old Incantation, and that trademark wizardry of old Immolation and Morbid Angel is taken to impressive levels here. Without wanting to be disrespectful or short-changing anyone, ‘Upon Desecrated Altars’ is definitely 666 miles removed from bands like Father Befouled or Encoffination, even Disma’s latest work sounded way less interesting that what these Left Cross guys are bringin to the table.
It may come across a bit redundant, but if you are remotely into Death Metal’s most dark and dense sounding niche and consider yourself a fan of the “Big Three” (yes, Grave Miasma, Dead Congregation and Cruciamentum), then this is definitely not a record to sleep on.
Profound Lore Records
- Country: Canada
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, Youtube
