Album Review: Pteroglyph – Solaire

More than three decades after death metal started to coalesce into its own distinct genre, it’s rare to find a band doing something genuinely fresh and exciting. With their second album Solaire, UK trio Pteroglyph aren't necessarily reinventing the bloody scythed chariot wheel – they don’t operate in a vacuum and there are certainly elements in here that you’ll recognise – but they do put them all together in a way that is entirely their own. It’s a blistering mix of aggression, melody and blazing technicality and one that’s definitely worth getting excited about.

The title-track kicks things off as they mean to go on, with an absolute machine gun blast of a riff. There are some major thrash influences throughout the half-dozen tracks on offer, but the full-throttle bursts are buttressed by monstrously chuggy grooves and topped with glacial melodies. The violent rapids they’re travelling often suddenly open out; the waters still turbulent but the vista widening as they bust out a harsh but expansive hook. There’s a touch of Gojira to these intensely melodic moments, as vocalist and chief songwriter Jimmy MacGregor tempers his excellent death metal bark into a somewhat smoother Duplantier-style rasp.

Black Death sounds unfortunately apposite as it drags plague-ridden imagery through more serrated guitar and ritualistic hooks. Six-stringer Ansley Prothero also gets to indulge in some guitar god soloing, bringing a howling rock feel to Feed The Wolf. The musicianship is flawless throughout, whether it’s those metallic licks, the drilling riffs or the underlying propulsion of the rhythm section. It’s unashamedly technical but never to the detriment of the songwriting or visceral gut-punch impact. All in all it’s a killer outing with zero flab and one that should see Pteroglyph take some major steps forward.

Verdict: 4/5

For Fans Of: Sylosis, Gojira, Decapitated

Solaire is released on Nov 6 via Blood Blast.

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