Album Review: Molder – Catastrophic Reconfiguration (Prosthetic Records)

Death metal band, Molder are set to reanimate the dead with their forthcoming third album, ‘Catastrophic Reconfiguration’, due for release via Prosthetic Records on November 8th, 2024.

Taking heavy inspiration from the old-school side of death metal, while sprinkling in some thrash and speed. Molder keeps this really simple, and in doing so, deliver a really effective beast that makes you gurn with garish pleasure. This is the sound of furious and ferocious heaviness that gets the head banging hard. First with the title track, then with Pulped, and then Overdue Burial. Molder bring the heavy and make their goal abundantly clear with the first part of the record.

A goal based in death and destruction, where the rot stench may be strong, but the overpowering aspects actually comes from the force Molder employ. This shambling monstrosity is far more dangerous than initially expected and its power, growing as the album goes on, will take many listeners by surprise.

Although if you’re familiar with the putridity of Molder’s death metal sound, the intensity that this record holds will be familiar. Especially as it really doesn’t get uglier and more garish than the middle portion of the record. Where heavyweight head bangers filled with all manner of vomit inducing noise like Frothing, Masked in Mold, Bursted Innards, and Rapidly Exsanguinated exist. Molder continues to sound disgustingly brutal through the sound of focused fury, and expelled with all the might of a band at the height of their death metal powers.

Employing a succinct approach that keeps the album impactful and revealing a tighter style of song-writing across its run time, the end of the record comes out of nowhere. Molder, having bludgeoned the senses already, find fresh ways to make their heavy sound even more impactful at this stage of the record. You might think a certain amount of desensitisation would be sinking in, but Molder’s attacks target different nerves to ensure you’re feeling the impact right up to the very end.

An end that comes in festering style via the wicked Corpse Copulation, comes in chunky style via the bilious Brain Boil, and comes in chaotic style via the manic Nothing Left to Ooze. Molder’s approach continues to be massively impactful even as the final notes leave the head spinning. This is an absolute masterclass in death metal, especially when you note just how well balanced the approach to combining old school ferocity with modern intensity is.

Molder – Catastrophic Reconfiguration Track Listing:

1. Catastrophic Reconfiguration
2. Pulped
3. Overdue Burial
4. Frothing
5. Masked in Mold
6. Bursted Innards
7. Rapidly Exsanguinated
8. Corpse Copulation
9. Brain Boil
10. Nothing Left to Ooze

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