Album Review: Phobocosm – Gateway (Dark Descent Records)

Montréal’s Phobocosm return with ‘Gateway’, an eldritch death metal opus that seals one chapter while unveiling the next. It will be released on November 28th, 2025, via Dark Descent Records.

The band themselves describe this album as the closing of a chapter, suggesting that the future sound of the band might be a little different. Before that though, we have seven tracks that sit nicely alongside the previous album, ‘Foreordained’, seeing as they were recorded, mixed, and mastered during the same session, and also showcase the entire length and breadth of Phobocosm’s sound to date.

Interestingly, the album includes material from every songwriting period of the band, some of it dating back to the Deprived and Bringer of Drought eras. I guess that makes it the quintessential Phobocosm release!

So, what does the quintessential Phobocosm release sound like? Dark, deep, and death fuelled. The band embody a sinister style of death metal, one that injects horrifying blackened tones, and layer it all with a sense of unearthliness. The darkness that exists here is all consuming, and across the seven tracks, Phobocosm drag the listener into the smothering depths.

Especially when we get such contrasting listens in the form of Deathless and Unbound. The former’s methodical approach, haunting and intense, whereas the latter’s frenzied focus is downright dangerous. Both tracks (and the entire album) bring forth unrelenting instrumental heaviness and demonically charged vocals. Guaranteeing the listener feels like they’ve been through hell listening to them.

Breaking up the album are a trio of instrumental efforts, none of which pass the three-minute mark and offer up varying different tones. For example, Corridor I – The Affliction has a blackened post ring about it. Whereas Corridor II – The Descent is dripping in dark and sinister atmosphere, and Corridor III – The Void ends the album in gloomy, heavy, and horrifying fashion.

Elsewhere we have the manic Sempiternal Penance, a blistering showcase of Phobocosm’s power. The riffs and drums are so hefty here, and when combined with some of the album’s nastiest vocal growls, it leaves a mark. Though there’s nothing quite like Beyond the Threshold of Flesh though, the longest track of all. Where Phobocosm unleash a torrent of hellacious heaviness that turns the mind into mush.

There’s no escaping the depths that they’ve dragged us down into.

Phobocosm – Gateway Track Listing:

1. Deathless
2. Unbound
3. Corridor I – The Affliction
4. Sempiternal Penance
5. Corridor II – The Descent
6. Beyond the Threshold of Flesh
7. Corridor III – The Void

Links

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