Genre : Blackened post-metal, Sludge hardcore, Progressive metal
Released : July 1st, 2022
Label : Nuclear Blast Records
FFO : Neurosis, Mastodon, Gojira, Converge, Celeste, Inter Arma
Conjurer took the metal world by storm with their 2018 debut full-length album "Mire", and like the vast majority of the community, I instantly fell under its spell with its gorgeous moments of forlorn melody but mainly its absolutely neck-snapping, fearsome amount of unforgettably devastating and crushing riffs.
Needless to say that the bar was set high and expectations for the band's future were set at a similar level.
"PÃ thos" is greek for "suffering", and that is indeed what the album's themes center around, most notably in the form of the suffering induced by mental illnesses and disorders, whether it be on oneself or upon one's entourage.
"It Dwells" kicks things off with a beautifully haunting acoustic chord progression (which has been embedded in my brain ever since I first heard it) before exploding into blistering post-metal aggression and visceral sludge hardcore as the band tackles the subject of depression and the unflinching grasp it can maintain on its victims. The track does an amazing job at portraying the feeling of hopelessness and despair that comes with, when realising it cannot be simply shaken off or escaped : "I'll brave any tide in the ocean ; If us both its depths would claim", as well as the disturbing sensation it can give of being constantly followed everywhere.
"Rot" continues this portrayal of unsettling bleakness with the band tapping into some of their most dissonant and pummeling riffs yet.
Things take an unexpected and emotionally charged turn mid-way through "All You Will Remember" as the lyrically powerful spoken-word segment erupts into relentless yet poignant melodic black metal.
Seriously, the transition from the lyrics "I'd do anything to prevent what I'm putting you through ; But I don't know who you are or who I am to you" into its bittersweet aftermath gives me chills and is sure to strike a chord within anyone who has been unfortunate enough to witness what Alzheimers can do to a loved one up close and personal.
Although it is perhaps a little less centered on riffs than its predecessor, "PÃ thos" sees Conjurer double-down on building atmosphere and writing songs that continually shape-shift and morph towards unexpected directions, something which "Basilisk" does brilliantly as it slithers from slow-paced melodic post-metal into thunderous death metal leading up to its apocalyptic finale.
"Suffer Alone" does an excellent job of keeping the album's pacing fresh and dynamic with its short explosive burst of mosh-ready, fast-paced blackened thrash/death/hardcore (the band even go down the mathcore road for brief spasms of dissonant panic chords), given how it breaks up the steady flow of tracks that average the seven or eight minute mark throughout the album.
Conjurer continue to maintain a wonderful balance between sheer heaviness and melody, pondering sludginess and rapid barrages of aggression until the album's mournful and introspective send-off, "Cracks In The Pyre" which adresses the subject of grief and mortality.
"PÃ thos" might be slightly less accessible and less instantly gratifying than 2018's "Mire" but it is perhaps even more rewarding in the long-run since the band have made efforts to create tracks that each tell stories of their own and are much more multi-faceted than one could anticipate.
The dynamics between both vocalists (and guitarists), Dan Nightingale and Brady Deeprose continue to deliver some of the most visceral and gripping vocal performances of the genre, whether they are yelling/growling in unison in different pitches or placing vocals in a call-response pattern.
The riffs are just as impactful and memorable as they were on "Mire" and truly create a good few "woah" moments throughout the record with a drumming performance to match the insanity and make it all work while the bass gives that necessary low-end to make things hit even harder and make that sludgy grit come alive.
The fact that Conjurer are master craftsmen when it comes to riff writing is no longer up for debate, but beyond the riffs, Conjurer also excel at depicting existential dread and the many nuances of grey that exist in the darker segment of the spectrum of human emotions in a way that is as thoughtful and poetic as it is entertaining and disgustingly heavy.