RSS Feed


DUNGEON CRAWL
Maze Controller

Carbonized (2024)
Rating: 8/10

Returning with far more striking artwork than 2021 debut album Roll For Your Life, San Jose, California-based thrashers Dungeon Crawl dish out more busy speed dollops with their latest full-length Maze Controller. Vocalist and now also bassist Code Jones has recruited three new members in the form of guitarists Ryan Alvarado and Gage Higgins, alongside drummer Magnus-Scrota. The sound though is still a raucous riff-manic cacophony that’s certainly contemporary in design while remaining crisp, tight and scathing.

There are some intriguing and, dare I say it, dramatic injections, particularly on the excellent title track. Although it’s strong thrash, the addition of cinematic punches really adds an extra later of coolness and atmosphere, also evident on the slow-build cruncher ‘Lords Of Pen And Paper’ which has a cosmic feel to its introductory before unravelling as a mid-tempo groove machine made all the more sneering by the vocals.

The neo-classical elements of the album are so striking as they dart and stab between fiery walls of spitting riffs and tumbling percussion. In fact, the mix of ingredients have kept me fixated for several spins as time and time again I’m drawn into a lethal combination of ripping thrash and innovative structures.

‘Lost In The Shifting Labyrinth’ will appeal to the sword n’ sorcery buffs with its cinematic introduction. The track is both Gothic and cosmic in its build before unveiling like some vast soundtrack that conjures images of electrically charged mystical realms before the combo charges headlong into the vicious ‘+1 Mace’. The tirades throughout are truly venomous as ‘Wolves Beyond The Border’ rigorously scowls like the demented offspring of Children Of Bodom and Kreator ferociously bleeding conniving melodies of grandiose stature.

Often with this sort of sniping thrash there is little variation, but with Maze Controller there is an adept marrying of juxtaposing musical landscapes and that quality alone is enough to appeal, but there are also dynamic levels of intricacy too.

There’s no doubt that Dungeon Crawl has created something a bit special here, something beyond the usual domains of thrash and symphonic metal, so roll the die and head off on an exciting adventure where role-playing romps interact with severe lashings of scowling metal.

Neil Arnold

<< Back to Album & EP Reviews



Related Posts via Categories
Share