Death metal is in a strange state these days. Many modern bands lack the brutal aggression that defines the genre, opting for groove or technicality instead. There are newer old school death metal acts, but many of those model themselves after one or two very specific bands. Spectral Souls proves that it is perfectly possible to play old school death metal without limiting yourself to a very narrow definition of the style, or to a certain regional scene, closing yourself off to anything else. Their sophomore album ‘Conspirachronicles‘ might even do that slightly better than their impressive 2022 debut ‘Towards Extinction‘.

Compositionally, the Peruvian quartet goes back to the days when death metal was still very clearly an evolution of thrash metal. Guitarist and vocalist Martín Revoredo is very riff-focused in his songwriting, taking Slayer’s sinister tonality, then pushing it into the extreme, which makes Spectral Souls sound very much like a second-generation American death metal band, though not like one in particular. The Floridian sound is probably the closest to what Spectral Souls sounds like, but it’s not a perfect fit, as multiple songs feature sections that will appeal to fans of the likes of Cannibal Corpse or even Vader as well.

That is actually inherent to one of Spectral Souls’ biggest strengths, and that is their ability to create a varied listening experience that doesn’t take anything away from the rabid aggression of death metal. ‘Conspirachronicles’ is not just 39 minutes of relentless pummeling. In fact, some of the album’s best songs are created by taking the foot off the gas for a bit. ‘Blue Beam Project’ and ‘The Whisper of Ominous Death’ sound genuinely eerie by slowing down to mid-tempo, while ‘Temple of Fear’ and the fantastic closer ‘Suppressing Superior Knowledge’ explore all the dynamic possibilities of the Spectral Souls sound.

Interestingly, Spectral Souls inserts tiny melodic bits into their music that really help the songs stand out. This often happens during the solo sections. Don’t think melodic death metal though; the main reference I had when listening to the likes of ‘Seven Principles’ and ‘Symbols’ was ‘Spiritual Healing’ or ‘Human’-era Death, including some truly whirling Schuldiner-esque solos. The only thing I’m conflicted about is the snare drum sound. It’s loud and harsh, which actually makes the blastbeat-heavy parts sound genuinely aggressive, but the snares also have a tendency to overpower the rest of the music during those sections.

Anyone who thinks modern death metal is short on riffs, aggression, or other aspects that the genre really needs, should give Spectral Souls a chance. While it would seriously sell them short to call the band a throwback act, the late eighties and early nineties influences are very prominent, and they manage to put a fairly fresh spin on the genre by simply keeping an open mind to inspiration from different styles of death metal. It allows ‘Conspirachronicles’ to explore a relatively wide range of influences, but still feel like a cohesive album with a sincerely angry, aggressive sound.

Recommended tracks: ‘The Whisper of Ominous Death’, ‘Blue Beam Project’, ‘Suppressing Superior Knowledge’