Mitochondrion – Vitreseptome

SonikGoat

Until now, Mitochondrion has not released a new full-length album in 11 years. Eleven years in which the commodification of some of popular music’s most challenging and demanding material has continued unabated. Indeed, in 2024, it’s possible to say that in the rarefied world of extreme Metal, styles such as Disso-Death have even become somewhat “fashionable”—by the niche standards of the underground, of course. Bands pushing further into abyssal realms seem to erupt into our cosmos on a weekly basis these days, so it takes a special group to take such a long hiatus and still return with a palpable buzz of expectancy. Not only has Mitochondrion achieved that, but has also surpassed its previous full-length, the mighty Parasignosis, delivering yet another top-tier album for 2024.

Remaining on the cutting edge of Death Metal in a year like this demands all the components of greatness: intensity, aggression, atmosphere, composition, and, for the top bands, an elusive “X factor”. Vitreseptome ticks all these boxes and, with that “special something”, unleashes them in an unrelenting torrent of crushing potency. It stands as the equal of anything else released this year in terms of sheer intensity. It’s not until the crackling fire sounds and acoustic guitar outro of track seven, “Flail, Faexregem!”, that we are finally granted a moment to catch our breath. After a brief wash of droning ambiance, “The Protanthrofuge” returns to engulf the listener once more.

This level of intensity might prove exhausting if the mix weren’t executed so brilliantly. Though I’ve only heard the album digitally, it sounds superbly balanced and detailed. Not only can you grasp the fearsome whole, but you can also discern the intricate contributions of each player. Both the billowing low end of the rhythm section and the piercing higher frequencies of the guitars are consistently clear. This unexpected clarity enhances the dizzying experience, as the fluid song structures create wave after wave of crashing blasts and eviscerating, technical dissonance. The vocals remain uncompromisingly guttural throughout.

Your appreciation of Vitreseptome will depend on your ability to remain focused under the relentless pressure of 80 minutes of crushing blackness. There’s no “Progressive” respite, no extended melodic passages to ease into. No synths, no Kosmische textures, no “Avant-Garde” strings or lengthy atmospheric interludes—until the album’s final moments, when a cataclysmic passage of noise, like an avalanche of rock and lava, obliterates the listener’s last shreds of comprehension.

What has surprised me, even after just a couple of listens, is how effortlessly the album fills its formidable 80-minute span. Yes, it’s long, and the lack of tonal variation ensures it won’t be for casual listening. Yet, while it remains unremittingly dark and destructive as a whole, the individual tracks teem with detail. The drums rise, crash, and fall in dynamic waves, while the guitars swoop and slice through the mix, complementing the guttural roar of the vocals. Vitreseptome, then, is for the most committed listeners only. But for those prepared to endure its relentless assault, it stands as one of the most punishing Death Metal albums of 2024—or any other year.

Label: Profound Lore Records

Release date: 1 November, 2024

Website: https://www.facebook.com/mitochondrion137

Country: Canada

Score: 4.666/5.0