| “Phoenix Cryptobiosis” finds Avulsed reborn and reinvigorated, asserting their status as stalwarts of Spanish death metal while embracing a fresh chapter. Emerging from a dramatic lineup overhaul—leaving only frontman Dave Rotten from the classic roster—the band channels the upheaval into an album that balances reverence for old-school brutality with a newfound clarity of purpose. From the opening salvo of “Unrotted,” it’s clear that Avulsed haven’t lost their fervor: the riffs are pummeling, the grooves unrelenting, and the atmosphere suffused with the macabre charm that has defined them for over three decades.
Where “Phoenix Cryptobiosis” truly shines is in its production. For the first time, Avulsed’s trademark guttural onslaught is rendered with pristine balance: the drums thunder with crisp attack, the guitars ring with palpable heft, and Rotten’s gutturals cut through the mix with visceral punch. This transparency brings out the nuance in compositions like “Blood Monolith,” where mid-paced, crushing passages give way to scything tremolo runs, and in the brooding menace of “Devotion for Putrefaction,” whose slow-burn riffing underscores the band’s flair for dynamic tension.
The new lineup proves more than capable of carrying the torch. Alejandro Lobo’s leads sparkle with vivacity on standout tracks such as “Neverborn Monstrosity,” injecting memorable motifs into the stomping rhythms laid down by GoG’s precise drumming and the tightly locked riff assault of Alex Nihil and Víctor. While a couple of album closers — notably “Wandering Putrid Souls” — tread familiar ground, they nevertheless deliver satisfying conclusions to an album that rarely lets up in intensity or imagination.
In sum, “Phoenix Cryptobiosis” may not shatter genre conventions, but it reaffirms Avulsed’s passion for uncompromising death metal and heralds a promising rebirth. With a sharp production, invigorated performances, and a healthy dose of melodic savvy, the album stands as a formidable addition to their catalog—and a reminder that true death metal institutions can rise anew from their own ashes.
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