In the modern landscape that metal happily finds itself in, whenever we talk about consistency out of many of the new names that we’ve come across, that of Gabriele Garmaglia has to be called upon every single time. The man has become a true tour de force of extreme metal in the underground with his roster of bands including that of recent need-to-know mentions from Summit, The Clearing Path, Vertebra Atlantis, and more with his fingerprints among many other great works over the years. His reputation has begun to have him named alongside other masterminds like Dis Pater, Rogga Johansson, and Jonny Pettersson with his growing list of acts and aliases. Hands down, though, his greatest creation to date has to be Cosmic Putrefaction which has captured the underground in record time, yet it’s with its third work that I can’t help but feel the man has found himself amidst even greater heights than before.
When you come before a band as accomplished as Cosmic Putrefaction has proven itself to be, it’s almost bewildering to realize just how quickly that reputation was cemented. It was in just barely the span of thirteen months that Cosmic Putrefaction went from a new name to one that absolutely demanded to be known with two significant albums released in that time, and it was after such an onslaught that many of us were left wondering how long it would take for the name to return to us yet again and in what form. With the very undeniable entirety of “Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones” as the name’s third opus to date, it makes one wonder how such an act made by one person with many other creative outlets could craft such an exquisite, pristine effort in such a short amount of time with there being little room for argument as to the vast quality and mastery on display for the new effort. Without a shred of doubt, I cannot help but look upon this creation as both the greatest work to date from both Cosmic Putrefaction and Garmaglia. Even without the continuing story from the previous album and the harrowing realization of a feeble man before the overpowering will of uncaring gods that care not for his dying world, the very essence of “Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones” is nothing short of staggering for all who immerse themselves in it as Cosmic Putrefaction truly shows us what it can do after tempering its sound for years in order to become a true tour de force of what this style is capable of. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is going to be hailed as one of the most engrossing creations that this year has thrown at us thus far, and I’m pretty damn compelled to agree wholeheartedly with any who would claim such a thing.
This is definitely one of those albums where a single listen would be an extreme disservice to all that this effort is. Every song and every corner has something new to discover should you just lose yourself to the mind-bending chaos that Cosmic Putrefaction has to offer in every given minute without exception, and it’s no matter how many times that I find myself encapsulated by what they bring forth that I cannot help but feel overwhelmed by the talent, power, and prowess that’s on full display for the utter entirety of the performance. Should “Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones” not be considered a grand showcase of real might and talent in every form then I will gladly throw hands with any and all who would proclaim such blasphemy to the very face of the rising entity of otherworldly darkness that is Cosmic Putrefaction.
LISTEN to “Crepuscular Dirge for the Blessed Ones” on Bandcamp here.
LIKE Cosmic Putrefaction on Facebook here.