Devotion- Astral Catacombs CD on Memento Mori Rec.

The astounding 3rd full-length by this Spanish band. Devotion are an exemplary study in patience and persistence. Formed in 2012 near Valencia, the band have gone through myriad lineups, but have parceled out their recordings when the time was right, for maximum impact and immersion. Their debut album, "Necrophiliac Cults", came in 2015, but its year of release might as well have been 1993; Devotion are nothing if not devoted to the timeless archetype provided by Death Metal during its early 90´s heyday. But while many years would pass until its follow-up arrived, in 2021, "The Harrowing" was indeed aptly titled: split between "chants" and "dirges", the Spaniards put on a masterclass in putrid, mid-tempo crush with memorability for miles. Consistent yet different enough, Devotion between the two albums might´ve had power-trio and quintet lineups, respectively, but the path was nevertheless deliberate and (d)evolved. Arriving quite "quickly" for their standards, the revamped-yet-again D