Ulthar - Cosmovore

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A mix of Black/Death Metal album with influences from Crust…how could this sound? It’s not an easy question to be answered, for an infinite set of musical possibilities would be opened. But a band as ULTHAR, a trio from California (USA), is a good example of it with their first album, “Cosmovore”. Truly brutal and nasty, loaded with a heavy and aggressive set of musical elements, their music is not as new as many would think, because influences from names as ABSU, BLOODSTORM and from Old School of Black/Death Metal scene from USA, but with raw insight to guide their music, it’s not so complicated to be assimilated. Very good musical arrangements, fine rhythmic changes, but there are points where their music must mature a bit more to be on the right point.

The album was mixed by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios, Oakland (CA), and mastered by Justin Weis at Trackworx studio. But the producer made a great mistake: their musical work could sound a bit cleaner that what is heard. Raw in this way isn’t the best, because it doesn’t fit as their music really deserves. A cleaner sound, bearing nasty instrumental tunes, would be fine. Musically, they still have a way go and polish their music where it must be lapidated. But for now, the brutal “Cosmovore” (this one bears some elements from 90s Swedish Death Metal, as is heard on the tempos), the bitter atmosphere created on “Solitarian” and on “Infinite Cold Distance”, and the oppressive crunch of “Asymmetric Warfare” can be said as their best moments on the album. But it can be heard from the beginning to its very end that it’s a good work, indeed.

If they can mature a bit more, ULTHAR will grow into Metal scene, but for now, “Cosmovore” is a very good album.

Originality: 7
Songwriting: 8
Memorability: 6
Production: 7