Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement—Constructing the Cataclysm (2022)

Details

Produced by Mike Clevenger at Audio Helm Studios. Cover by Andreas Christanetoff from Armaada Art. Released on Comatose Music on Friday 5 August 2022.

For fans of Morbid Angel, Deicide, Ripping Corpse, Dim Mak

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Band

Jay Barnes—Vocals
Jordan Varela—Guitar, bass and drums

Tracks

Insurrection of the diabolical (04:19)
Breaching the gates of tranquility (04:10)
Insidious spiritual incarceration (03:43)
Awaiting the infinity of oblivion (04:46)
Irrevocable siege of the abominable (03:13)
Fragmenting the profane (04:06)
Tribunal of the Oni (03:47)
Constructing the cataclysm (04:55)

Review

Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement is a brutal death metal band from North Carolina, USA. The side project of Jay Barnes and Jordan Varela from ‘Lust of Decay’ this is their third album, released nine years after their sophomore release in 2013.

It often hard to evaluate music of this intensity by the same criteria as you might other genres. For extreme and brutal death metal where your senses are bombarded by the relentless hammering of overdriven guitar riffs, battered drum kits and cymbals, and “devilish growls and howls” the criteria move away from melody and subtle instrumentation to the clarity of production quality and rhythm—does it flow? is it interesting? is it entertaining? does it lead the listener on a journey?

The press release throws out phrases like

“Domineering drumming, powerful melodies and classic yet inventive riffing”
“Overwhelming power and potency”
“An incendiary sound that combines clarity of delivery with a snarling, venomous power.”

And it’s not wrong. This album is a brutal onslaught of razor sharp riffs and tortured lyrics. Drawing on the complex history and vibrant mythology of the samurai—the powerful warrior caste of feudal Japan—Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement have carved out their own kingdom of intense and characterful death metal. It’s just a shame that I have no idea what they are singing about, the gargled throaty vocals swallowing every syllable.

Conclusion

I may be tired or distracted, but as good an album as this is, I find myself listening to it with academic curiosity rather than with artistic delight. It just doesn’t speak to me—your mileage may vary. For me, the outstanding somg is “Awaiting the infinity of oblivion” (track 4) which releases an interesting riff before it settles into a steady barrage.

Review score: 65%

Disclosure

Imperator PR contacted me inviting me to preview Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement forthcoming album, which I was delighted about. I have no connections to either Imperator PR or Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement. I’m not being paid to review this. But I did get a free digital copy of the album to review which is pretty cool. Many thanks to Imperator PR, and to Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement for continuing to create fresh, new death metal.