As a fan of Deathcore back in the early days, I always feel compelled to give newer Deathcore bands a listen when I have the time. As luck would have it, Existentialist’s latest album, The Heretic (Seek & Strike Records), ended up in my inbox, ready for just such an occasion. While this record did not blow me away, it is well executed, especially with the level of symphonic elements bleeding more into some tracks than others.
‘The Zealot’s Demise’ starts off with a very Septicflesh vibe with the symphonic orchestration parts acting as an intro. Don’t be fooled, Deathcore is at the foundation so there are a few breakdowns sprinkled in here and there. ‘Usurper’ comes later on The Heretic though follows the same formula as the previous tracks on the record. This track, however, pours on the symphony/piano a bit heavier than most other tracks and gave some light to the back half of the album.
‘The Abyssal Embrace’ rounds out this fifty-minute journey with a near two-minute symphonic intro and some black metal influences start to sneak their way through. With about three minutes left, a breakdown and then an epic build to the outro sends the album off on a good note.
Overall, it’s not a bad album by any stretch. Existentialist is a newer band having entered the subgenre ten to twelve years, after the novelty of the genre was at its peak. Having said that, The Heretic, by all accounts, certainly hits everything the current-day deathcore fan enjoys along with some pretty damn good symphonic pieces (honestly, my favorite part of the album). While it may not get many playbacks from me, personally, I can see this exciting many fans of the band and attracting new ones.
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
TIM LEDIN