“The swarm of greater ills frothing at the fang.”
Editor’s note: As of 22/09, Godlike has been re-recorded with a new vocalist (which appears to be Tyler Miller of Aversions Crown) following the departure of long-term vocalist CJ McMahon. Comments on the vocals have been altered to reflect this latest version.
Last year Thy Art Is Murder celebrated a decade since the release of their sophomore full-length, Hate — a record that has cast a long shadow over the Australian unit’s later releases and the genre as a whole. Even material further back into their discography such as Infinite Death still remains a few sentences away whenever discussing Thy Art Is Murder. This isn’t to overtly disregard their newer material, much of which has been excellent (particularly Dear Desolation), but they haven’t struck gold in the same way. Entering Godlike, it begs the question, what would something that could meet the heights of this previous material look and sound like?
What is immediately evident from opener “Destroyer Of Dreams” is the departure from the deathcore stylings that plagued the genre around 2019, with the likes of Slaughter Prevail and Brand Of Sacrifice indulging in this obtuse, vocalists-trying-to-outdo-each-other style that Thy Art lent into previously on Human Target. The opener displays rapid kicks, noodly but fierce guitars, and gnarly gutturals which more than live up to the Thy Art name. As mosh call “This world is yours for the taking” and a gargantuan breakdown hits, there is a satisfying sense that the Australian unit can still do it. Maybe even a little bit better than before.
The opening moments on “Blood Throne” are juicy; the groove on the two-step-esque drum beat, gives a meaningful drive to the track. On this and “Join Me In Armageddon“, the snarl of the vocals sets in, giving the group’s new vocalist ample opportunity to flex and reassure fans that the skill and ferocity on that front is here to stay. “Keres” ushers in stomping and pounding beats, which don’t entirely feel in-place on a deathcore record, yet the disgusting panic-chord filled breakdown here make up for it.
Extended cut “Everything Unwanted”, with a peachy five minute run-time, seemingly looks to balance itself on lyrical content more-so rather than overt instrumental performance. “We are everything unwanted, over over, we fall from grace” sees the group a nihilistic but fair stance, as we all go to hell in a handcart. The anguished vocals of “During this life of pain” layered in on pitched chords that close out the track, lending it an extra piercing quality.
The relentlessness of Godlike continues on “Lessons In Pain“, with “Pray for your fucking salvation“, is yelled during the track to great effect. With the take-no-prisoners mentality of the record, and even if the guitar solo during the midpoint does ward off the brutality, the more hook-based moments that could have been found on records such as Dear Desolation, are long gone. The title-track further proves this and continues to expand on the weightiness of the record. “Embrace the beast inside you” precedes an absolutely lovely breakdown.
Final third tracks “Corrosion” and “Anathema” do pass by slightly here. While it is difficult to directly find fault with them, there is a lot present in these tracks that feels sufficiently explored on previous records. However, the panicked stylings of the former do a good job awakening the senses, along with its crashing breakdown. All this leads into closer “Bermuda“, a lamenting and open-ended track. “I remain in the absence of your light,” seems to hint that Thy Art and their brutality are far from finished.
Godlike is a beast of a record, and it would be more than justifiable to stick it up as one of their best. It feels earnest rather than dotted with gimmick, and the record shows its teeth throughout. While there is still a sense that Thy Art Is Murder could delve further into twisted ways, as they have touched on before, Godlike sets the stage of what could be the best era of Thy Art to come.
8/10
Godlike out September 22nd via Human Warfare, and can be pre-ordered here.