Up till now, we haven’t really had a heavy moment at Fecking this year, but today that changes with the absolute gristle-fest that is Pyramid Mass, a band out of Richmond, VA that throws some deliciously bizarre and surprising moments into brutal death metal.
We’re not just talking interesting time signatures and breaks, either, although those are definitely in there as well – in “Abhorrent Passage,” for instance, there’s an almost all-too-beautiful bridge that makes you forget what you’re even listening to yet still makes sense for the song.
If you’re a fan of deathly experimental grind like Full of Hell, Noisem, Wormrot, or even Krallice, Pyramid Mass is a band you’ll want to keep an eye on. Their EP Gargling Rot is due March 18th, 2025 on Ossien Records – get an exclusive taste below.
Metal music enthusiasts will likely recognize members of Dumb Waiter, Hellbear and Night Idea, and the studded cast continues in the credits with recording by Kevin Bernsten (Full of Hell, Weekend Nachos) and mastering with James Plotkin (Pelican, Isis).
According to guitarist and vocalist Nick Crider, “Kevin Bernsten is our favorite sound wizard. This was our second trip to Developing Nations in Baltimore. There is just something special about taking the band out of town to get greasy for a few days in the studio. The studio is packed with nutty gear and Kevin is always down to go along with any stupid idea we have. Once during a feedback loop-gone-rogue, my bassist ran out to tell me to stop, and Kevin was just like, “Well, if we need to blow a speaker we need to blow a speaker.”
Matt Wild, who handles drums and vocals as well, had this to add: “Diminished tones echoing from cathedral ceilings. Dark corridors possessing anguished spirits imprisoned far beyond their fated timelines. Blinding projections beholden by hollowed eyes perceiving both horrid visions and loving gaze in a chaotic prism of duality. Every variant of sin embodied by celebrities posing as role models. Dispelling curses casted by unknown evils fronted by corporate oligarchs. These are the landscapes painted within the lyrics of Gargling Rot. Depicting a parallel realm not so different than the one we exist in.”
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