I picked up this album when I saw Pyrexia in concert in November opening up for Abysmal Dawn and Krisiun. Pyrexia has been covered a few times on this blog primarily due to their influence on the slam death genre. They never really were a slam band themselves, but they share some characteristics and are cited as an influence on the genre, much in the way that fellow New York death metal band Suffocation.
I have a few Pyrexia albums, with their debut Sermon of Mockery being a particular favorite. This one is a pretty straight-forward brutal death metal release. It's typically heavy and intense with some standout moments. I was particularly impressed with "Wrath" which starts off with a clip from The Shining, specifically the moment in which Jack Torrance confronts the ghostly Mr. Grady about killing and butchering his wife and daughter. I haven't been able to find lyrics for the song to determine if the song is about the book/movie. That song also features guest vocals from Sanguisugabogg growler Devin Swank.
This is a quality release by Pyrexia, but it doesn't reinvent the wheel. It's short, which helps because it makes it easier to sit down and just listen all the way through. There are no soft moments, no relenting on the intensity, so the brevity is a relief. Pyrexia doesn't do anything new, but continues to put out fun, brutal death releases. The band should also be experienced live.
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