{"id":327487,"date":"2025-10-23T21:51:19","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T21:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/327487\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T21:51:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T21:51:19","slug":"thaumaturgy-pestilential-hymns-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/327487\/","title":{"rendered":"Thaumaturgy – Pestilential Hymns Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Changing your sound must be equal parts thrilling and intimidating. On the one hand, it\u2019s an opportunity to explore and flex your creative muscles, to see what else you can do. On the other hand, it may alienate your listeners, but more simply, it may just be unsuccessful. This is the crossroads at which we find Kansas-based Thaumaturgy<\/strong>. While their debut, Tenebrous Oblations, was a cavernous voyage through Mortiferum<\/strong>\u2019s lightless catacombs, sophomore effort Pestilential Hymns, is a notable departure from that sound. Founder KT has brought on the equally mysterious TG and DS to realize this new sound. Is this evolution a confident step forward or an ill-conceived stumble?<\/p>\n

Thaumaturgy<\/strong>\u2019s sophomore effort is indeed a big change from their debut, but it\u2019s got the same bones. The reverberous cobwebs that swaddled Tenebrous Oblations may be gone, but the murky, serpentine structures remain, often taking on a blackened char in the clearer production. \u201cThe Oncologist\u2019s Hymn\u201d and \u201cAwaken Ares\u201d showcase this well, employing textures that evoke SVRM<\/strong> or Wolves in the Throne Room<\/strong>, although more sinuous than Cascadian. Pestilential Hymns further departs from its predecessor with new vocalist, TG. KT still provides deep, cavernous roars as a backing vocalist, but TG looks to Death<\/strong> and Pestilence<\/strong> for inspiration, employing more howl than scream or growl. This would be concerning were it not for the added classic death\/thrash riffcraft of those forebearers that complements TG\u2019s performance. The last major change in Thaumaturgy<\/strong>\u2019s sound is the inclusion of synths, most often used to augment or reinforce the atmosphere fostered by their newly blackened edge (\u201cPlague Ritual,\u201d \u201cNeuroticism Triumphant\u201d).<\/p>\n

The deployment of these new elements on Pestilential Hymns is a bit of a mixed bag. Riffs and leads seared black bring a compelling gothic tone to the album that pairs well with that classic death metal sound (\u201cForced March\u201d). Thaumaturgy<\/strong>\u2019s two main styles\u2014classic death and cavernous death\u2014largely alternate as TG and KT pass the mic, creating a shifting landscape that keeps me invested through Pestilential Hymns\u2019 46-minute runtime. This separated approach does, however, encourage comparison between such regimented styles and passages, and I tend to gravitate toward and appreciate one over the other. An approach more melting pot and less mosaic may have alleviated this pain point. In a rare attempt at a more cohesive whole, \u201cEntropic Hegemony\u201d features a great deal of interplay between vocalists, but the Beastie Boys<\/strong> call-and-response style employed can be distracting.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Each element of Thaumaturgy<\/strong>\u2019s new sound holds its own in isolation, but solid combination or incorporation is an area where the band could improve. Synths sprinkled throughout Pestilential Hymns do succeed in establishing atmosphere and evoking intended emotions, but only when embedded within tracks rather than serving as outros to them. Throughout the album, there\u2019s a combined four minutes of synthy outros that don\u2019t do much more than delay the oncoming track or blunt a strong finish (\u201cThe Oncologist\u2019s Hymn,\u201d \u201cAwaken Ares,\u201d \u201cForced March\u201d). Add a handful of instrumental passages that linger overlong (\u201cThe Shadow Approaches,\u201d \u201cPlague Ritual\u201d), and bloat and pacing become real issues. This is exacerbated by interlude \u201cAn Ignominious End.\u201d I like the atmosphere it builds\u2014I immediately thought of Evoken<\/strong>\u2019s exhausted shuffles\u2014but at 2:30 and as the penultimate track, it kills any momentum leading into the album\u2019s end. Smaller doses of this energy could have been incorporated into the meat of proper tracks to better effect.<\/p>\n

Pestilential Hymns feels like a step back from Thaumaturgy<\/strong>\u2019s debut, but one made out of exploration and experimentation. It\u2019s a dip in cohesion, not a dip in quality. Everything here succeeds individually, and the majority does so holistically as well. But there are a few fundamentals\u2014pacing, synthesis, bloat\u2014that this broadened focus neglects. That said, Pestilential Hymns is still a fun listen and shows much promise toward a more unified future vision. My complaints seem easily attributable to growing pains and self-discovery, which, of all possible faults, are among the more commendable ones. And if there\u2019s a choice between taking risks and retreading solid ground, I\u2019ll support evolution every time.<\/p>\n

\ufeff<\/p>\n

Rating:<\/strong> 3.0\/5.0
DR: <\/strong>9 | Format Reviewed:<\/strong> 320 kbps mp3
Label: <\/strong>Memento Mori<\/a>
Websites: <\/strong>Bandcamp<\/a> | Instagram<\/a>
Releases Worldwide:<\/strong> October 20th, 2025<\/p>\n

\n\tGive in to Your Anger:\n<\/p>\n