Welcome to the modern age of death metal, where it seems half the newer bands people are hyping up staggered into existence via Maggot Stomp before their chuggy chuggy unga bunga riffage started eliciting enough precum from the hardcore kiddos to catch the attention of bigger labels, ultimately resulting in even more unwarranted hype and overcrowded tours with Jesus Piece and Dying Fetus. Of course, there are exceptions. Like Skeletal Remains, Molder are loyal pupils of death metal’s old school, the kind of band that’s influenced by many but isn’t copying anyone in particular. Hailing from Joliet, Illinois, the group formed in 2017 and quickly established themselves as a punky, sleazeball death metal act that reeked of Autopsy fumes. The legendary Kronos wasn’t wrong when he said the band’s second album, 2022’s Engrossed in Decay, didn’t do much to differentiate itself from its influences, but I still seemed to enjoy that record a lot more than he did. With their third album Catastrophic Reconfiguration, vocalist and guitarist Aaren Pantke has now apparently taken a more collaborative approach to the writing process, a move that’s nonetheless resulted in zero stylistic changes.
And to me, that’s not a bad thing. As before, the band’s putrid style is here in all its nasty glory, with these ten tracks essentially sounding like a modern incarnation of Autopsy blended with a few bits of Obituary. The opening title track is typical of what you can expect, with the song careening forward on punky beats, rabid riffs, and slobbering vocals that bear a strong resemblance to Obituary’s John Tardy. Furthering the comparison to those Florida legends, the guitar solos throughout the record have a soaring and melodic flair that evokes James Murphy’s performance on Cause of Death. While the riffing is often manic and unruly, songs like “Bursted Innards” and “Corpse Copulation” add some extra Autopsy juices by slowing the tempos and employing twisted, wonky riffs that wouldn’t have sounded out of place on Severed Survival or Mental Funeral.
It’s a vile, lovely mess that’s executed well. The band specifically have a knack for writing catchy material and knowing when to mix things up. “Pulped,” for example, scrambles forward on verses of staccato chords before breaking into a slow, addictive chorus that reeks of Death’s Leprosy. The closer, “Nothing Left to Ooze,” is even catchier, with a refrain of squealing tremolo riffs and wretched vocals that scream out the track title. “Overdue Burial” and “Frothing” stand out with their fast and demented tremolo riffing, while “Masked in Mold” unleashes a massive, chugging guitar riff that feels mighty enough to loosen your molars.
Moments like this are augmented by the fat-as-fuck guitar tone, which sounds like it’s spent the last six months sitting on your couch eating family-sized boxes of Chicken in a Biskit and watching bad horror movies. The production as a whole presents everything with ample clarity and force, though it is a bit louder and more polished than I’d prefer for this sort of music. Likewise, while things remain consistently enjoyable across these 34 minutes, most of my favorite moments are in the album’s first half. Too many of these tracks also have extended instrumental introductions, which dampen the record’s crazed energy and make some of the songs feel predictable. Perhaps the most damning thing one can say about Catastrophic Reconfiguration, however, is the same thing Kronos said about Engrossed in Decay two years ago. While Molder execute death metal well, they don’t really have a standout trait to distinguish them from other death metal bands you’ve heard before.
That said, not every band has to be different to be a success. To me, Molder’s “special sauce” is doing death metal well. Listening to Catastrophic Reconfiguration, it’s easy to tell that these guys are passionate death metal dudes who offer music that’s catchy, well-performed, and well-produced. The best bands of yesteryear are remembered today because they had memorable songs, and one can say the same thing about Molder. When the dust settles and we’re looking back on what early 2020s death metal was, I think Catastrophic Reconfiguration is the type of album that’s going to be looked back on the most fondly—even if it isn’t breaking the mold.
Rating: 3.0/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Prosthetic Records
Websites: molderil.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/molderil
Releases Worldwide: November 8th, 2024
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