Phenocryst – Cremation Pyre

Phenocryst is a Portuguese Death Metal band formed in 2020. The band name is derived from an early forming, relatively large crystal that stands out distinctly from the smaller grains in the groundmass of an igneous porphyritic rock. The band’s themes revolve around volcanology, nature’s dynamic force and death.

Their first release, titled ‘Explosions’, was released through Blood Harvest s. A full-length album simply had to follow after this EP and so there’s ‘Cremation Pyre’.

Obscure heavy-as-lead Death Metal is unleashed upon the listener from the beginning: bass drums showering upon you like falling debris, gargantuan riffing on the guitars that pulsate as sonic blast waves and a deep regurgitated voice heralds the cataclysmic effects of nature’s upheaval.

Musically, Phenocryst’s music is somewhere between a slower Blood Incantation, Tomb Mold and Spectral Voice and I like to add Bolt Thrower to that list. They’re not shy to include acoustic parts in their music, as can be heard on ‘Embers of an Ancient Fire’ or shred the living shit out of their songs like on the menacing heavy ‘Fogo nas Entranhas’. The complete album is extremely heavy in nature yet offering some reprieve in the slower and more acoustic parts, but the danger constantly lurks in the music. A killer of an album!

Those who have the EP don’t need to hesitate for a second, others are cordially invited to secure a copy.