Raging Death Metallers Cultist Release Spiritual Atrophy on Awakening Records!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BV-Qcv4qDmA

Formed in 2015, in Calgary, Canada, over the course of an EP, a split release with Euthanized and a full length debut album – the critically acclaimed Manic Despair – disciples of death, Cultist, have been carving out a niche for themselves in the pantheon of the proponents of dark, destructive music. By embracing the old school aesthetics of the death metal genre and adding their own sense of cosmic horror and fracturing sanity, a triple vocal attack and an accomplished, adventurous sense of song writing, the three piece have begun to forge a powerful, individual identity. And their profile is about to grow exponentially as they prepare to unleash the chaos and mayhem of second album, Spiritual Atrophy!

Lyrically and conceptually Spiritual Atrophy is inspired by the band’s own experiences with the occult – and if the jarring alien cadences of ‘Reality Shaper’ are anything to go by then their explorations behind the veil would have shredded the souls of the ill-prepared. From the unnerving introduction of ‘Divination Whispers’ to the colossal conclusion of seething guitars and crackling malignant energy that is ‘Spiritual Atrophy’ itself, this album is a wild and perilous ride that combines the terror of the graveyard with the overwhelming madness of alternate dimensions. Along the way we encounter the grinding riffs and constant trepidation of ‘Neophyte’, the strange marriage between the progressive and the utterly devastating in ‘Phenomena’, the weird audio torment of ‘Perversion Of Survival’ segueing into the rampant death worship of ‘Ascension’. The band credit new guitarist Betzi Poitras with taking their new material ‘over the top’ and giving it ‘life and depth’ – but whatever nefarious methods they may have employed to make this invocation of sinister forces a reality they can only be applauded. A huge stride on from Manic Despair, Spiritual Atrophy is an awesome display of soul-shaking darkness and whispered curses made flesh.

Recorded and mixed by Scott Oliphant (Dying Remains, Snakepit etc) and mastered by Rolando Rodas (Smoulder, Rites Of Thy Deringolade, Dire Omen etc), Spiritual Atrophy will be sent out into the world by Awakening Records on March 20th - with a special vinyl edition to follow in late April, early May, courtesy of Futhark Records. Clutch your symbols of protection tight…and don’t break the circle!