SARCOPHAGUM from Australia emerged in 2021 as a studio only project by the members of GOLGOTHAN REMAINS (past and present) and the ASHEN HORDE drummer. It’s been just over two years since they released their three track EP “Conduits To The Underworld” through Nuclear Winter Records and now following up with a new collection of material, this time with a full-length effort being released again through Nuclear Winter entitled “The Grand Arc Of Madness”. That EP bears the sign of what the group wants to convey, nothing but overwhelming darkness poised to consume all. This wasn’t surely meant to be another merely entry into the ever-expanding pool of extreme Metal offerings, but a harrowing descent into a bleak abyss. Now their full-length debut, “The Grand Arc Of Madness”, surely looks like bent on channeling primal and dissonant fury to uncompromisingly plays their blend of Death Metal with a modern, unsettling edge. And even before one can dive into the record, what should catch the attention is the full color cover artwork, compared to the previous black and white. It really is a provoking and dark piece of artwork which given the style of the band musically sets a real idea of what to expect. And then the surprise should come with the record, which has only four tracks lengthening just below 35 minutes. Beginning with the tracks ‘Ritual Pillars Burn’ and ‘Feudal Futures’ seamlessly fuse chaotic primal crush with eerie melodic flourishes, forging a soundscape both cerebral and devastatingly visceral. From the slow, suffocating churn of ‘Vermiform’ to the epic, narrative-driven record closing title track – a colossal display of blackened Death Metal clocking in at nearly fifteen minutes. Though I have never been too fond of super high length tracks, which surprisingly became almost a trend in recent times, especially in atmospheric Black Metal releases and nowadays also in Death Metal. Sometimes one can think, three to four more compositions can be shared instead of pouring it all in one track. It’s surely a challenge for any listeners to hold their attention for so long and might think twice before replaying, unless someone gets totally possessed by it. However, these maniacs express themselves most fully in their uncompromising sound, commanding heads and necks to roll sadistically, regardless of the track length. Still, this record shows that this Australian entity is specialist in crafting Death Metal drenched in unrelenting dissonance and an oppressive atmosphere that will feel hauntingly familiar yet uniquely their own to devotees of ULCERATE, IMMOLATION and ADVERSARIAL. The music crawls with sickening malevolence and blasts with infernal power. It’s dissonant and sharp, yet carries a brutal weight that should send darkwaves during a concert. Mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios, the album’s dense, crushing production enhances its unsettling character, while again I must say, Khaos Diktator’s striking cover art visually embodies the discord and dread running through the record length. All the riffs, blistering solos, guttural roars and deeply mixed distinctive bass lines land with maximum impact. These all says it enough that SARCOPHAGUM has delivered their craft with showing their capability in full display and if you’re a fanatic devourer of dissonant bashing, then “The Grand Arc Of Madness” can satisfy that thirst day and night. Find out more about the band and label here: www.facebook.com/sarcophagumband, www.facebook.com/martyrdoomproductions