Pyrrhic Salvation’s upcoming EP, When Society Crumbles (February 14th), is a foray into the chaos and complexity of technical death metal. It’s a multifaceted experience that captures the fragility of humanity and showcases the trio’s dynamic creative synergy by blending relentless technical prowess with raw and organic intensity.
The centrepiece of the EP is the three part composition, “Where Society Crumbles”, that weaves themes of societal collapse, human potential, and inevitable destruction into a tale that is explored within each track. “Where Society Crumbles – Infrastructure”, “Where Society Crumbles – Insight”, and “Where Society Crumbles – Inferiority Complexed” build from the track before with the repeating motifs and intricate progressions forming a cohesive picture before the final track “Every Last Soul Unmade” ventures in existential dread with unsettling precision.
The disorienting yet calculated nature of the music is a testament to Pyrrhic Salvation’s ability to push the technical death metal genre into uncharted territories. Michael Altobello’s layered guitar work forms the foundation, while Sagar Nadgir’s drumming and bass contributions give the compositions their relentless drive. Shawn Ferrell’s vocal delivery is both commanding and visceral and allows a grounding point for each theme to hit the soul.
With the band approaching a raw approach to the technically oriented songs, there’s a duality of unrefinement yet sophistication within the arrangements. The trio’s willingness to explore unconventional structures and sporadic melodies results in a sound that is both chaotic and methodical.
Thought provoking yet punishing, When Society Crumbles is a sonic dissection of humanity’s precarious existence.
