Album Review: Cabal – Magno Interitus (Nuclear Blast)

Hailing from the cold north of Denmark, Cabal unleash their dark force with Magno Interitus, the bands third studio album. Due to be released on October 21st, 2022 via Nuclear Blast.

In a very short of amount of time (6 years in fact), Cabal have made a name for themselves within the extreme metal scene. A name that has seen them considered one of the bright prospects of the scene and with this third album, they prove just why extreme metal is in very safe hands with them.

Blisteringly fast, blisteringly heavy and blisteringly brutal, Cabal’s fury and aggression is front and centre with the stompy intensity of If I Hang, Let Me Swing. An opener that has no pretences and no frills, it’s gurn-inducing mayhem. Cabal aren’t pretending they’re in a foul mood, it’s undeniable. Especially when they follow that with something even darker and deviously heavy, as Insidious is.

The main takeaway, two tracks in, is how furious Magno Interitus is, but pay attention, as there’s layers of instrumental detail throughout and that becomes more obvious on the title track. The Danish noise-mongers leaning into the blackened side of metal and delivering head-splitting music. Before the sinister and salacious disturbance of Existence Ensnared sees Cabal stab away violently with the riffs/drum combo that makes their music so damn heavy.

The thirst for even more blood is made all too real with Insatiable, Cabal’s rage knowing no end but even that seems tame when compared to the horror-laden effects and crunchy wickedness of Blod af Mit. As close to groove as you’re going to get with Cabal but also a track that has some dark industrial influences too.

It’s no surprise that at this stage, it’s clear that Magno Interitus is the band’s best work, but what is a surprise is that it’s their most intense. Cabal do heavy and heavy very well but this is on another level. Further proof of that statement coming with Exit Wound and Violent Ends. The former, a choking mouthful of stompy aggressive metal. The latter, tearing through soft fleshy parts like a gore-covered chainsaw. Cabal are playing out of their skin here and it pays off.

It almost seems trite to continue describing the remainder of the album as savagely heavy but it’s the most simplistic way to sum it up. Again, though, it’s the layers that make a track such as Like Vultures so interesting. A hymn for the extreme.

The end coming in the form of the maddening speed of Exsanguination and the relentless vehemence of Plague Bringer. Cabal wanted to smash skulls, break teeth and devastate the mental faculties with this album and they’ve bloody achieved that.

Cabal – Magno Interitus Full Track Listing:

1. If I Hang, Let Me Swing
2. Insidious
3. Magno Interitus
4. Existence Ensnared
5. Insatiable
6. Blod af Mit
7. Exit Wound
8. Violent Ends
9. Like Vultures
10. Exsanguination
11. Plague Bringer

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