Xenosis - Hermetic Transmutation

Hey folks;

Ozan kept busting my balls, saying, “Dude, write something for the site already. Look, we’re chasing all this work around, you should pitch in too.”

So there I was saying, “Alright bro, I’ll write something,” and I finally managed to catch the opportunity. Anyway, let’s get to the point. Before us we have Transcending Obscurity Records’ Xenosis and their new album Hermetic Transmutation. These young guns have been producing material since 2010, and their cleanest and most modern-sounding album to date wipes the rust right off our ears like a charm. This 40-minute record hits the limit that’s been ideal for me lately — especially when it comes to technical death metal. Running times around 35-40 minutes tend to be far more digestible. You can absorb the album’s structure and lyrics much more easily. I’m always down for technical and progressive stuff, and Xenosis have managed to spread that approach across the album in a very successful way. The guitar wizardry, solos, and drum acrobatics are all executed masterfully. The first single they released, which also happens to be the album’s third track, “Spore Whore,” follows in the footsteps of bands like Atheist and Gorguts, while modernizing the technicality even further, and they’ve done a damn fine job of it. Especially after the 2:30 mark, the song opens up in such a way that it’ll have drool running down your chin. The bass guitar dominance and guitar antics in the second half are so damn good that you can even catch jazzy nuances here and there. The drums and vocals complement everything beautifully as well — credit where credit is due. Easily the peak track of the album.

The album opener “Sentient Shapes” delivers death metal in a fantastic way, but then transcends straightforward death metal by weaving harmonies into the composition and shifting into a more technical dimension. The second track, “Prolapsed Twin Entombment,” grabs you from the very first second without wasting any time. It’s death metal in its purest “what it is and how it should be done” form. No unnecessary detours, no strange variations. Just pure fucking death metal!

The fourth track, “Engravings for Dyslexic Clairvoyants,” serves as a brief breathing space at 1:08 after “Spore Whore” smashes you from wall to wall with its 7:15 runtime. Performed with acoustic instruments, it’s a beautiful yet equally gloomy piece.

The fifth track, “Rapid Metamorphosis,” is the album’s longest song at 7:38. It’s long, but it manages to hook you instantly. You may find yourself subtly moving your body and nodding your head along to it. Immaculately performed. The cohesion between all the instruments is fantastic. A song with high tempo and dynamic energy. Even though it occasionally descends into chaos, the jazz-like progressive sections arriving after the fifth minute, along with passages that take on the vibe of a jazz/fusion band, will trigger an incredible emotional explosion. Especially for listeners like me who love hybrid metal where jazz music is fused into metal — particularly death metal — this is an absolute feast. I’m sure fans of bands like Cynic and T.R.A.M. will get immense enjoyment out of these sections.

The sixth track, “Sea of Teeth,” is a seriously crushing piece. Maybe the least progressive track on the album, but it still succeeds in making your mouth water. Massive riffs, backed by the accompanying drum performance and vocals, bulldoze through everything in their path. The seventh track, “Altar of the Hound,” stands out with its guitars. The bass work and guitars are phenomenal. Once again, the guitars deliver moments reminiscent of Death and Atheist-styled craftsmanship that will leave you grinning.

The album’s closing track, “No Longer Human,” is absolute cacophony :). Short riffs, chaotic and complex harmonies — a final display where the guitarists and drummer pull one last trick out of the hat and showcase their performances one final time. It functions as a summary of the album itself.

“Hermetic Transmutation” is not a work that will appeal to everyone, but it’s an album that will whet the appetite of every music lover — especially musicians. Xenosis have succeeded in crafting an album where technically gifted musicians come together to create technical/progressive material with occasional jazz-infused touches. Extremely sterile in terms of production, “Hermetic Transmutation” is a highly immersive album that will surprise, seduce, and ultimately satisfy fans of this style of music.

HÜS


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