Nogothula is relatively new band from Ohio that’s entered the scene in 2022 and released their debut album entitled ‘Telluric Sepsis’. On it are nine tracks, totalling some 42 minutes of Death Metal. You’ll find some sites putting them under the Blackened Death Metal umbrella, but ‘Telluric Sepsis’ tips the scales into mostly Death Metal territory, with only some touches of Black Metal clichés present to spice up the mix.
After the doomy first introduction notes of awakening, Nogothula show their true face straight away. Listeners are faced with aggressive riffs that have a very frantic nature to them. The frantic riffing draws parallels to Morbid Angels ‘Formulas Fatal To The Flesh’. However, it would be far to unjust to call Nogothula a straight up Morbid Angel rip-off. ‘Telluric Sepsis’ often throws in a riff or two a song that could otherwise be found on a (modern) Black Metal record. Aside from the Black Metal influences here and there, I can’t help but notice the band moving into in the murky territories of Death Metal, dealing with concepts such as the occult and/or space. Themes like these are not only sung about by the two vocalists, that deliver a deadly dual vocal attack accurately I must admit, but are summoned equally effective by a sense of chromatic riffing that Incantation is known for. If you still haven’t got a clue what I’m going on about, then I urge you to listen to the closing track meandering comatose twilight… the carrion viaduct as this (eight minute) track pretty much sums up what this whole album is about, but doubles down in the technicality of the riffs and the dynamics of the songwriting is outstanding on this one!
The record is produced to standards that it up to modern standards. All instruments sound crystal clear and the mix as a whole delivers the right punch. This is nothing but necessary to fully articulate the wickedness of the riffs. However, the sole complaint I can think of is that it is perhaps too polished. The music of ‘Telluric Sepsis’ often flirts with the more vile aspects of Death Metal, thus a touch of murkiness might have benefitted this image.
All things considered, Nogothula delivered a solid album with ‘Telluric Sepsis’. Especially if you’re hellbent on seeing intricately played Death Metal styled with otherworldly themes. If one was to name similar bands, I’d have to return to the aforementioned bands in addition to Nocturnus (minus the keyboards this time). It’s a really fun record to listen to with all it’s technical flair in the riff department and spicy dual vocal antics.
