Phobophilic - Enveloping Absurdity (2022)^{Release ID: 39832}

Albeit done in a completely piecemeal manner, I have probably listened to Enveloping Absurdity at least ten times over without ever taking the opportunity to sit down proper with it and listen to the album end-to-end. Finally getting around to some critical listening time with it this past week I feel I have finally been able to do a full review some justice. With their Demilich, Adramelech and latterly Tomb Mold comparisons being obvious from the off, Phobophilic offer a wide-ranging snapshot of death metal influences on this their debut release. Unafraid to slow things down to a death-march, Incantation-esque pace along the way, this four-piece from North Dakota showcase their range and capability nicely over eight tracks of thick and cloying death metal.

Running sonic melodies around tracks such as Those Which Stare Back like some mini horde of nefarious demons, there is an accessible urgency to Phobophilic’s sound that avoids the catchy and goes more for the complete experience. All instruments sound like they play their part on Enveloping Absurdity. Structures feel like they accommodate all parts of the group, whether it is the assured yet uncomplicated drum patterns or those harrowing melodies that stab through most of the tracks on the album as the guttural vocals and ever-present bass add the real density and weight to proceedings, each component of the band gets valid airtime.

The lead work is crisp and soaring at times, firing grim light out of the unfathomable darkness that enshrouds the sound. Like futile gestures of hope, or beacons of false security they offer some levitation from the murk that clings to the notes and riffs overall. As the album progresses towards its midpoint things seem to take on even more of a proficient standard with instrumental track Individuation being an unexpected high point for me which leads into the equally excellent The Illusion of Self.

For a debut release, Enveloping Absurdity embraces all that I love about death metal. It explores the true aphotic nature of the genre and offers some glimpses of light around accessibility into the dank underbelly of this beast. Yes, there are times where it loses me just a bit as they go off into perhaps too familiar territory and I find myself wondering if this is a little too close to worship as opposed to a celebration. Overall though this is an excellent album that I really should have explored as a full experience far sooner than I have.