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CRYPTA
Echoes Of The Soul

Napalm (2021)
Rating: 8/10

For me, Echoes Of The Soul is one of 2021’s most anticipated albums, it being the debut platter from Brazilian / Dutch combo Crypta which features former members of Nervosa.

Crypta began life two years ago with a line-up consisting of vocalist / bassist Fernanda Lira (ex-Nervosa), drummer Luana Dametto (ex-Nervosa) and the guitar attack of Sonia Anubis (ex-Burning Witches) and Tainá Bergamaschi (ex-Hagbard).

As the first single ‘Starvation’ suggested, this would be a darker yet at times more structured and atmospheric sound than that offered by the Nervosa speed attack. Maybe the influence of Sonia Anubis has brought a somewhat mainstream cold steel structure to the ranks, but there’s still no denying the sheer hostile velocity within this death / thrash assault.

Fernanda Lira’s vocals drift between a scratchy, witchy rasp to a chestier bellow, and this is apparent from the off, as is the fluctuations in tempo and temperature as the combo forces its way into your ears with this opening track. ‘Starvation’ begins as a full throttle barrage of flailing percussion, crunching, rattling bass and those sneering vocal spits.

This is Crypta announcing itself to the world with dehydrated progressive flashes and snappy layers of concise belligerence. There’s nothing overtly flashy, just a band seething with angst and thrashing ability, but things really begin to expand within the latter stages of the track where well executed solos flit and the drums become severe tidal waves of extremity.

And this is where the band really comes into its own, spreading its wings with the melodic ‘Possessed’ featuring a catchy intro, a rattling percussive melody and a quickening pace. However, through it all there is that sense of structure; the clan never veering off into truly wild masquerades of mayhem in spite of the aggression.

I do have to note, however, that at times the sound does feel a touch thin – the band lacking crushing weight. But they more than make up for this with those harmonious leads which bring a gloss and, dare I say it, tranquillity, albeit a brooding atmosphere that worms its way through the dark aspects of thrash. Unfair then to call this death metal; the band leaning towards a Teutonic flavour with dollops of catchiness.

‘Death Arcana’ chugs in timely fashion, with Lira bringing a deeper style of aggression to her snarls this time round. And this is where the comparisons to latter day Death come in; the quartet weaving complex chunks of tidy rhythms whereby intricate chords streak with measured tumbles and progressive strikes. There’s also a sense of traditional metal veerings behind the wall of icy darkness, with a fine guitar solo from Anubis.

‘Shadow Within’ provides further icy blasts of scathing melody. Here, the introduction is an almost militant glide featuring more exceptional guitar work before the band goes full blitz, and again Lira conjures up the spirit of Chuck Schuldiner with those dry rasps of evil.

The snappy nature of the album is what strikes you immediately – ‘Under Black Wings’ is brooding yet potent, sharp, caustic and chugging, and ‘Dark Night Of The Soul’ begins with suspense before shredding your flesh with its slow-burning tide of hissing percussion.

Elsewhere, closer ‘From The Ashes’ is a straight-up speed-fest that rakes the ears with its breakneck velocity, hinting at black metal aesthetics before its deeper barrages, while ‘Kali’ mesmerizes with its wild, cold guitar work once again, and ‘Blood Stained Heritage’ judders with percussive rage.

Echoes Of The Soul, in spite of its seething madness, feels somewhat restricted at times, flashing between a deathlier Sadus maybe. But while there’s an old school flavour, Crypta is very much a new school outfit, and I will admit that after a few listens interest does start to wane.

Maybe I did expect something far nastier and less polished, because even through its sneering intensity I sense a restrained band, almost too dehydrated by the production. But even so, Crypta’s first outing will rattle bones and frazzle the brain with its meandering melodies and slashing, razor-sharp thrashings.

Neil Arnold

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