Album Review: Celestial Sanctuary – Insatiable Thirst For Torment (Church Road Records)

Cosmic death metal band Celestial Sanctuary will release their sophomore album ‘Insatiable Thirst for Torment’ on August 25th, 2023, via Church Road Records.

Oof, this is harsh. Which might not come as too much of a surprise considering what we know about this band. However, few could expect them to step up to such a degree and deliver something so devastating here. Insatiable Thirst for Torment is one hell of an apt title as the album is a perturbing listen but one that is highly addictive. Where the only major complaint anyone will have is that it’s not long enough.

Offering up eight repugnant and heinous tracks of uncompromising death metal, Celestial Sanctuary want the listener to feel like they’ve suffered through this release, and most will. From the moment the filthy doom-tinged, garishly heavy, and deceptively groovy opener Trapped Within the Rank Membrane makes its arrival, the bones begin to ache. Celestial Sanctuary have set the bar high early on.

Faster, more intense, and more wicked sounding, it’s Gutted with Chunder. Followed by the monstrous Swivel Eyed and Gurning in the Shadows and the vomitus Meandering Stream of Foul Fluid. Celestial Sanctuary really showcasing their development, tightness, and imagination. All while being unendingly brutal. It’s thrilling stuff, even if it does leave you feeling black and blue all over.

A grim and garish sound is all we want from this band, and they deliver on that as a high point is reached with the next two tracks: Biomineralization (Cell Death) and The Lurid Glow of a Dead, Burning Body. Celestial Sanctuary’s massive death metal sound is on full display here, and the abject horror is ever present. White hot drumming, flaying riffs, scathing vocals, it’s the Celestial Sanctuary way and it doesn’t disappoint.

Finally, if you can take a bit more, it’s one big and mean offering in the form of Unquenchable Thirst… and one frenzied gore-soaked offering in the form of Gutted with a Blunt Blade. Right up to the very end, Celestial Sanctuary pound and pummel, leaving the undeniable thought that this is the album that will make their qualities well-known around the world.

Celestial Sanctuary – Insatiable Thirst for Torment Track Listing:

1. Trapped Within the Rank Membrane
2. Glutted With Chunder
3. Swivel Eyed and Gurning in the Shadows
4. Meandering Stream of Foul Fluid
5. Biomineralization (Cell Death)
6. The Lurid Glow of a Dead, Burning Body
7. Unquenchable Thirst…
8. Gutted with a Blunt Blade

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Church Road Records