J-Man
Galgamex may not be one of the most well-known death metal acts on the Canadian extreme metal landscape, but I remember the band leaving me with quite an impression upon hearing their 2011 debut EP. Their lethal and complex brand of technical death metal struck me as an impressive blend of old and new styles, and although it was not a revelation in death metal, Galgamex emerged on the scene with their own identity and some kickass tunes to boot. Fast forward to late 2012, and the Canadian outfit unleashed their debut full-length in the form of Cult ov Death - and, as great as their first EP was, this album really establishes Galgamex as a band worthy of your attention.
Musically, we're dealing with some uber-technical and brutal death metal in the vein of Suffocation, Obscura, and Spawn of Possession; although deviations into General Surgery or Dark Tranquility territory appear from time to time (as well as high-pitched black metal shrieks), this should not be mistaken for anything other than a technical death metal album. And, thankfully, it's a damn good one too! Galgamex has a knack for creating totally punishing music that still sounds memorable and cohesive, and although I find that many bands in this genre focus too heavily on noodling, Cult ov Death features well thought-out and sophisticated compositions.
Cult ov Death also features a tremendously powerful production (certainly better than the muddy, albeit effective, sound heard on the EP!), and the musicianship is every bit as phenomenal as one would expect from a high-class technical death metal act. The only real knock I can give Cult ov Death is its short running length; at only twenty-six minutes, this is too short for me to really consider it a full length observation. Still, wishing for more music is never a bad sign, and all of the tracks that the band has assembled for this album are purely excellent. Galgamex really are one of Canada's best kept secrets, and I can only hope that fans of technical death metal check out what they're up to!