It’s only been four years since 1349’s last offering Demonoir, but it does somehow feel like Massive Cauldron Of Chaos has been a while in the coming. However, needless to say, 1349 have once again put out a fantastic offering that both builds on their previous releases and also brings some fresh ideas to the table.
Opener Cauldron is fantastically grim and dark, setting an eerie scene for what’s to come on the album with its atmospheric introduction that blends seamlessly into fuzzy guitars and murky vocals, and things progress fantastically from there, with strong inclusions such as the relentless Golem and the substantial and meaty Mengele’s.
A particular highlight is closer Godslayer, a track that rounds up the album rather well. It’s a dark and mysterious piece, yet it’s also succinctly powerful. The deep spoken vocals in parts work really well and contrast perfectly with the harshness of the unclean vocals, and the instrumentation is like a wild driving force keeping everything moving along at an incredible rate.
1349 have done it again and have put out another incredible offering. They know what their strengths are and really build on them to craft something wonderful – and Massive Cauldron Of Chaos is a highly recommended listen as a result.
9/10
