Album Review: CRS – The Collector Of Truths (Concreto Records)

Mexican death metallers CRS prepare to release their second album, The Collector of Truths, this December. The Sonora-based band, formerly known as Cirrosis, originated in 1991 and released their debut LP Reciclando Desesperación in 1999. Now, twenty years after that first album and almost thirty years since the band’s inception, CRS are back with a thirst for blood.

In the vein of Morbid Angel, Carcass, Fear Factory, and Cynic, CRS prides themselves on playing music that’s both brutal and nuanced, with melodies that rise above the underlying chaos. Vocalist Sir Oz, guitarist/bassist Francisco “Chucky” Oroz, guitarist/bassist Joseph Lev, and drummer Tavo Ramirez were joined by two international guest musicians for this album: Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus, Suffocation, Chimaira) plays drums on “A Better Place to Hate,” “Tan Lejos de Dios (Nowhere.. But Here),” and “I’m the Universe,” while Linus Klausenitzer of Obscura and Alkaloid lends his bass work to “The Art of Breathing. ”

The Collector of Truths will be available on December 6th 2019 through Concreto Records.

When you wake a person out of an early morning stupor with your opening track, you’re doing things right. Which is exactly what CRS managed with the first track of The Collectors of Truths called Asfixia.

It’s a banger that has all the heft of death metal but with a huge helping of groove to make it a bit more standout. The short and sharp guitar parts alongside a very disjointed drum beat and vocals that are reminiscent of Max Cavalera, slays.

Taking the groove up another notch, Tan Lejos de Dios ( Nowhere … But Here) has fantastic rhythm that works with the guttural vocals and against them. It’s a clash that creates magic. Although Kill My Name does settle things down for what is a more traditional death metal track. No complaints though, it’s all kinds of heavy goodness.

The Art of Breathing, Resistencia and A Better Place to Hate keep the strength in this album up. Muscles flexing and rippling with clever instrumentation and no nonsense heaviness in equal measures. The latter of the trio has the albums best moments of melody that dives into metal without a care.

The excellence of The Collector of Truths and CRS’ efforts has to come to an end though and like all good records, it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The penultimate track, The Daydreamer’s Nightmare is all fire and fury, the palette cleanser for the technical riffage and chunky groove of I’m the Universe. God damn, this is how you wrap up an album.

CRS – The Collector of Truths Full Track Listing:

1. Asfixia
2. Tan Lejos de Dios ( Nowhere … But Here)
3. Kill My Name
4. The Art of Breathing
5. Resistencia
6. A Better Place to Hate
7. The Daydreamer’s Nightmare
8. I’m the Universe

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