Artist: Sépulcre
Country: France
Label: Invictus Productions
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2026
With a demo entitled ‘Ascent Through Morbid Transcendence’, the French band Sépulcre made their debut on the scene in 2020, backed by the Irish quality label Invictus Productions from the outset. Initially released only on cassette, the demo was also released on both vinyl and CD a year later. Although the running time of 14 minutes was a bit on the short side, the band immediately showed what they had to offer. A brand of Death Metal steeped in deep darkness, with elements of both Black Metal and Death/Doom Metal. This was reiterated on the ‘Cursed Ways Of Sheol’ EP, released on CD in 2022 and on vinyl in 2023, once again via Invictus Productions. It is also this Irish label that is bringing us the French band’s first full-length album.
Although the musical formula hasn’t actually changed at all compared with the previous two EPs, it’s clear that this first full-length album marks a significant step forward to what one might, to put it a bit crudely, call ‘musical maturity’. The whole thing may sound a little less explosive, wild or raw around the edges, but it has certainly gained in depth, increasingly seeming to find a musical connection with bands such as Grave Miasma or even Dead Congregation. The blend of Incantation on the one hand and Immolation and Morbid Angel on the other is characterised by its dense riffs, dark atmosphere and non-conventional approach to songwriting. It is precisely this energy that makes the band a perfect fit for the Invictus Productions roster; Sépulcre fits perfectly amongst the ranks of Bones, Grave Infestation, Qrixkuor, Sacrilegia and Coscradh.
It is the defining atmosphere and the rolling riffs, such as in the fantastic instrumental ‘…Of Otherworldly Abhorrations’, which constantly bring to mind the finest work of Incantation and Morbid Angel’s ‘Blessed Are The Sick’ and ‘Formulas Fatal To The Flesh’. But even for those who have followed the somewhat more modern offshoots of this musical recipe over the past two decades and count bands such as Ignivomous, Lvcifyre, Cruciamentum, Wrathprayer, Temple Nightside, Funebrarum, Phrenelith, Impetuous Ritual or Vasaeleth among their favourites, will find a new addition to their collection in ‘Cryptic Temple Of Otherworldly Abhorrations’.
Still deeply rooted in the dark depths of death metal, Sépulcre certainly offers more variety here and, above all, a brooding, sulphurous and oppressive atmosphere that will also appeal to fans of both Black Metal and Death/Doom Metal. So, in short, whilst there are still plenty of heavy riffs to enjoy, ‘Cryptic Temple Of Otherworldly Abhorrations’ is an album that demonstrates a band continuing to explore and deepen its own concept.
