MALTHUSIAN

The Summoning Spell

Malthusian’s second LP, The Summoning Spell, follows their 2018 debut album Across Deaths. Although this is only their sophomore release, the Ireland-based band has a clear and well-defined vision for their sound. A standout example of blackened death metal, the guitar work and drumming are exceptional. Too often, death metal can fall into the trap of prioritizing aggression at the expense of musical nuance—but that’s not the case with Malthusian. The cavernous, dark atmosphere conveyed throughout the album doesn’t come at the expense of technicality, which is one of its most impressive aspects.

Rather than commenting on each individual track, I’d like to focus on the overall sound of the album. I believe this will be an intriguing first listen for fans of bands like Cruciamentum, Grave Miasma, and others in that realm. Choosing an American label was also a smart move that will undoubtedly help them reach a broader audience. The album’s pacing is well-crafted, making it easy to listen to multiple times in a row. That said, as previously mentioned—and given the distinctly extreme blackened death metal style—it may be a bit intense for listeners unfamiliar with the genre. ‘Between Dens and Ruins’ completely blew me away. The rapid-fire riffs make it an exhilarating listen.

Long story short: don’t sleep on this album. Go check it out—it’s likely to show up on many AOTY lists. And I’m sure we’ll be hearing the name Malthusian a lot more in the future.