Artist: Ancient Death
Country: USA
Label: Profound Lore Records
Formats: LP / CD
Year: 2025
After the release of ‘Sacred Vessel’, Ancient Death’s debut EP, there were lots of plans. This rather young American Death Metal band had its hopes for a vinyl issue of the EP to be released in a joint effort by Necroharmonic Productions and Rotter Records as well as a split 7” EP with Putridarium, also through Necroharmonic Productions. However, as is unfortunately often the case with Necroharmonic Productions, three years later, nothing has come of those plans. Fortunately, that didn’t stop the band; on the contrary. With ‘Sacred Vessel’, the band attracted the interest of the much larger and, above all, more professional Profound Lore Records, which signed up for the release of this first full-length album.
Although definitely 100% comparable, I heard a slight echo of the second half of Death’s career as well as Atheist. Not nearly as advance as Death and not half as jazzy and intricate as Atheist, but still… It turns out that I was not the only one hearing that slight resemblance as guitarist Jerry Witunsky has been added to the Atheist line-up in 2023, not too long after ‘Sacred Vessel’s release.
This debut album, released just before this year’s summer, largely builds on its predecessor. That means that we are still being served with some non-conventional Death Metal with an emphasis on interesting and dynamic song writing as well as some solid guitar wizardry. Yet, ‘Ego Dissolution’ has a less heavy production and on the vocal department Witunsky took a more shouting approach – almost Hardcore-like. As a result, the music feels a bit more tentative and as a whole somewhat off. There’s technicalities aplenty, good riffs and it is clear the guys (and girl) have been investing in their song writing skills. But, as a whole, the music feels a bit like a plethora of ideas; there’s lots of bits and pieces, but there’s very little keeping it all together. And on top there’s a rather light production that only seem to highlight the mild chaos that’s going on basically throughout the whole album.
Another thing that keeps me puzzled is the mix. The guitars, or rather the riffs, are clearly pushed into the background a little, automatically creating more space for the other elements. The bass is clearly audible throughout, and the rather plastic-sounding drums also demand a lot of attention. Finally, there are those loud vocals, which give the whole thing a slightly sludge-like character. This is further reinforced by the incorporating of slow and melodic passages (in which the bass guitar is annoyingly omnipresent), jazzy melodies, clean female vocals and other arty-farty smattering. It is not Dillinger Escape Plan yet, but, I fear for the future. I definitely love more experimental, complex, technical, or adventurous Death Metal, but this is neither fish nor fowl.
I do not doubt that everything presented on ‘Ego Dissolution’ is put there with a purpose, but I can’t say that it came out convincing. Perhaps the band is aiming to an overall more Hardcore/Mathcore-like sound. I don’t know. But if they’re happy with it, then that’s fine and I won’t complain. My enthusiasm for looking forward to the next album has pretty much dropped to zero, though. However, kudos for the outstanding artwork from the early 90’s.
