Tomb Mold – The Enduring Spirit

The Enduring Spirit is the fourth studio album by Canadian death metal trio Tomb Mold. This seven-tracker album was released through 20 Buck Spin in autumn last year (2023). After releasing three albums in three years and then spending the next four in the wilderness, The Enduring Spirit marks their first studio release in four years, following Planetary Clairvoyance from 2019. Line-up responsible for this fourth studio album this Toronto-based trio was as followed; Max Klebanoff (drums & vocals), Derrick Vella (guitar & bass) and Payson Power (guitar).

First thing noticeable is that the guys are expanding their sound, exploring vast new territories, making their sound more varied and progressive compared to anything they’ve done before! Thus the album opener, “The Perfect Memory (Phantasm of Aura)” is varied, progressive and experimental piece, yet it is also one of the band’s most extreme songs yet. It features a plenty of great riffs, fast & technical drumming coupled with some low growling vocals. Following one is called “Angelic Fabrications” being a quite different track, with Mr. Vella’s impressive bass playing, perfectly exemplified with his bouncy mid-tune solo. “Will Of Whispers” is a nearly 7 minute run-time song which is quite different to its two predecessors. It enters with a jazz-like fantasy sequence before bringing in some tasteful guitar leads, growled vocals (with some well-placed backing vocals), and longer melodic stretches with clean instrumentation. “Fate’s Tangled Thread” is the reason why I can’t give them the highest score for this opus. On this particular track the band’s attempt to fuse their extreme and experimental inclinations (exemplified with these proggier lead parts in the second half of the track) doesn’t seem to have succeeded. “Flesh as Armour” on the other hand is much better song for me, mostly due to its electrifying vibe and dizzying dynamics. “Servants Of Possibility” features some unexpected yet brilliant lead guitar work with some progressive solos and atmospheric melodies. It also has some screechy and high-pitched vocals caried by these ecstatic and overwhelming riffing assaults. I simply love the pace, riffs, drum fills, and overall dynamism of this track – simple excellence! The album’s finale, a self-titled “The Enduring Spirit Of Calamity,” is an eleven-and-a-half-minute affair that has a lots of melody, clean harmonious parts in the middle, some inspired/extraordinary quality riffs, and double bass drumming as well. It’s an excellent way to end this stellar album.

I am impressed with their inventive songwriting ideas of the band; fresh and clear production allowing each instrument to be equally heard, and quite fittingly yet colorful artwork, created by Jesse Jacobi who also did the aforementioned Planetary Clairvoyance artwork.

After listening to The Enduring Spirit multiple times I understand the reasons why Tomb Mold are regarded among the most respected names in the new school of death metal. The Enduring Spirit is a daring exploration, but at the end of a day it is never anything other than unmistakably Tomb Mold. For die-hard fans of the band and everyone who worships the likes of Death, Pestilence, Carcass, Entombed, Cynic, Grave, Convulse, Nile, Atheist, Blood Incantation and similar death metal acts.

https://20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/the-enduring-spirit