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SPECTRAL SACRIFICE
Transcending The Abyss

Self-released (2025)
Rating: 7/10

I honestly think that alongside the word “putrid”, “abyss” is one of the most used words in the death metal genre. In this case it’s relatively new Chilean band Spectral Sacrifice that has used it for their debut full-length release. Chile has produced some fantastic extreme metal over the decades, so I wondered how this one would fare.

After a lengthy intro (‘El Eterno Retorno’) you’ll soon discover the many layers of this quartet through the song ‘Metamorphic’, a title which sums up the clever shifts and tempos. Essentially what you get here is death metal, but there are elements of groove throughout alongside flashes of grind and tech-death. What’s interesting about the opening track is how the band can resort to a subtle, wistful passage but still spike it with a meandering solo or rasping vocal. It’s technical but you’re never overwhelmed by the various shades. Instead, you begin to marvel at how the band twists and turns while remaining brutal.

‘Night Dose’ is more hectic than the opener, but again there’s that streaking solo work from Brandon Acosta. Vocalist Benjamin Guajardo is somewhat of an acquired taste, his style is both maniacal and spewing but he does shift into a more guttural stance. The track moves from a thrashing death to a choppiness, remaining fresh even if the music ends up clattering like an old washing machine! However, if there’s one track that showcases not just the talent on display but also the hint of cheesiness then it’s ‘Shred With Style’. Coming across a bit thrashy but dominated by the fantastic axe work, the only downside is Guajardo’s shouts of “shred with style… shred with style”. I know it’s the song title, but come on dude.

Elsewhere, ‘Shades’ is an interesting little ditty, as is the brief fretboard workout ‘Overloaded’ before the thrashing death of ‘The Devil In Life’. By this point though, I’m more than irritated by the vocals which tend to be too distracting.

Spectral Sacrifice is certainly more of a modern sounding extreme metal band, but they wouldn’t have seemed out of place 20 years ago. There are elements of riff repetition on the title track, but considering how good the guitar work is in particular I’m surprised that the album is short at 31 minutes. The closing namesake song, ‘Spectral Sacrifice’, is full of thrashing menace, delivered at times with juggernaut riffage and spiced with a delicate interlude that trickles through. In contrast, there is some fantastic solo work too, conjuring a more traditional metal aesthetic.

There’s a lot of potential with Spectral Sacrifice, and the guys certainly bring something a little different to the deathly fray.

Neil Arnold

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